Monument record 1770/2 - Medieval Rabbit Warren in Grafton

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 10/19-21 Bennett B et al 1984 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Warren, to the east of Grafton Hall. Long, low rectangular earth mound. c.50m long, 7m wide and 0.75m high, surrounded by a shallow ditch. It may have been formerly hedged round.

<2> Higham N J, 2001, Grafton New Hall: Landscape History and Archaeology - and - Preliminary Report on Supplementary Archaeological Investigations (Client Report). SCH4474.

A pillow mound immediately east of the hall site, c.50m x 7m and 0.75m high, which has been interpreted as a probable rabbit warren, establisehd to provide what was still (c.1600) viewed as a delicacy to the hall.

<3> Historic England & Archaeological Research Services, 2017, Cheshire National Mapping Programme and Lidar Mapping Project: Sampling the Peak Fringe, Cheshire Plain and Mersey Valley, 1585028 (Digital Archive). SCH8172.

Slight earthworks of a possible medieval moat seen on lidar images located immediately to the east of Old Hall Farm at SJ 4516 5127. It comprises two, possibly three sides of a broad ditched enclosure The farm is on the site of a former manor - Grafton Hall
The site was mapped as part of the Cheshire National Mapping Programme project. A rectilinear mound surrounded by a broad, shallow ditch was identified on lidar imagery and appears extant on the latest 2010 aerial photography. The mound, around 50m in length, may potentially be a pillow mound (rather than a moated site), identified with Grafton Hall.