Site Event/Activity record ECH6140 - St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall, Warrington: Archaeological Recording

Archaeological recording was undertaken at St Wilfrid's church, Grappenhall, a Grade I listed church, by Matrix Archaeology on 15th October 2015. External subsidence had occurred at the south-east corner of the south aisle, and investigation revealed that the roof of a brick vault had partially collapsed. Recording of the vault was undertaken prior to repairs being made. The owners of the vault, the Parr family, are identified on a brass plaque located in the south aisle of the church. They were prominent local landowners and lived at Grappenhall Heyes. The vault was originally located in the churchyard a short distance south of the church chancel. According to the brass plaque the vault was finally closed in 1874 during construction works to the south aisle, comprising a diagonal sandstone buttress located directly on top of the vault; these works formed part of a restoration of the church undertaken by the architects Paley & Austin. The vault roof comprised a single skin of brickwork in the form of a pointed arch; its interior measured about 2.30m east-west by 2.27m north-south. It was filled almost to the roof with brick and sandstone rubble so its depth is not known for certain. The rubble fill was probably inserted in 1874 when the vault was sealed. This rubble fill appears to have been derived from graveslabs elsewhere in the churchyard. (1)