Monument record 1951/1/3 - Churchyard to the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bruera

Churchyard to the Church of St Mary the Virgin. The church building is Listed (CHER 1951/1/1) and the churchyard contains a Scheduled Monument (CHER 1951/1/2). The churchyard has been significantly expanded from the sub-oval shape shown on the Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25” maps. The northern and eastern part of the churchyard was occupied by a number of buildings and an orchard. The buildings are not shown on later maps, indicating their demolition (1 & 2 CHER 1951/3/2).

RCHME survey identified an east-west ditch/bank to the immediate south of the churchyard, which may continue in the southeast corner of the churchyard, however here is has been almost obliterated by recent graves. Amorphous features in the levelled and enclosed plot to the north are potentially associated with the demolished buildings (3).

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<3> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1986, Moat & Settlement Remains at Bruera (Unpublished Report). SCH2200.