Site Event/Activity record ECH7046 - Geophysical Survey Report: Bretton Hall Solar Farm

A geophysical survey was undertaken in 2021 on a circa 49.25ha area of land near Bretton Hall, Bretton, Flintshire, Wales, with the southern portion of the land lying in Lache, Cheshire. The survey was completed across the majority of the survey area, except for circa 4ha which remain unsurveyed due to waterlogged ground. The survey detected anomalies of possible archaeological and agricultural origin, as well as large areas of variation in magnetic properties, attributable to changes in the soils and underlying geology. Anomalies of undetermined origin have also been detected. These could relate to agricultural, natural, or modern processes, although an archaeological origin cannot be ruled out, especially as possible archaeological anomalies have been identified in the survey area. The impact of modern activity on the results is present in the form of magnetic disturbance from fencing along field edges and a former railway which bisects the survey area, which has not impeded the interpretation of the results except in areas directly affected. Areas 5, 6 , 7 and 8 of the survey lay within Cheshire. Linear anomalies occurring within areas 6 and 7 appear to coincide with field boundaries visible on nineteenth century mapping. (1)