Monument record 1828 - Chowley

Possible deserted or shrunken medieval hamlet. First mentioned in 1086 in Domesday (1). It was held by the free woman Wulfgifu and was sub- infeudated to Mundret by 1086 (2). Aerial reconnaissance in 1984 by Rhys Williams recorded a number of small ditched enclosures, typical of tofts and crofts, on the east side of Chowley Oak Lane. A wide but straight post- medieval type ridge and furrow comes upto the enclosures and is cut by the ditches of one of them. A farmhouse and other buildings still stand on the western side of the Lane (3). Field to west of Chowley Oak Lane has N-S hollow way. At N end of field are remains of buildings shown on Burdett's 1777 map. On E side of lane are earthworks of large farm building on outcropping rock. To S is subrectangular mound which may be another building. A scarp to E of farm masks boundary between settlement and ridge and furrow to E. (5)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ45NE18 (Index). SCH2487.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/315+317 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 10/13 Willaims S R 1984 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<4> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, 4/84 (Y) (Book). SCH3228.

<4> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .IV p.84 (Book). SCH3228.

<5> Higham N J, Medieval Settlement Research Group - Annual Report, 10/27-28 Cocroft W D & White G 1995 (Book). SCH2179.