Site Event/Activity record ECH6428 - Chorley Old Hall, Alderley Edge, Cheshire: Archaeological Mitigation Works

A programme of work was undertaken in the period from 2015 to 2017 at Chorley Old Hall in relation to re-development work within the hall itself and its grounds. The new excavation work comprised the whole of the former hall, and the cross passage, with limited trenching within the former service wing. As part of the same refurbishment programme, external archaeological evaluation and watching briefs were undertaken. This work has provided an insight into the development of the hall from the medieval period through to the twentieth century. There is good evidence to suggest that the late medieval hall extended further to the west and a long demolished east wing originally enclosed the courtyard on that side. Furthermore a small gate house was located adjacent to the moat bridge. Although the medieval floors within the surviving hall had been almost totally truncated by later activity, the remains of two hearths within the original medieval great hall were found, also the remains of steps leading from the cross passage up into the medieval service wing. Information for the later sixteenth/seventeenth century internal re-organisation of the house was also recorded. Evidence which predates the fourteenth century hall, was identified and this appears to relate to iron-working on the site which predates the medieval hall.