Monument record 7030 - Site of Elworth Hall, Sandbach

<1> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

Elworth Hall is shown on Burdetts 1777 Map of Cheshire.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, Sandbach, 1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The hall is also shown in the Sandbach Tithe map of 1841 and the owners are Cambridge University.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester (Book). SCH1389.

According to Ormerod an estate has been present here since at least the 13th century.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Early mapping shows an extensive park with what may be a ha ha.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

<5> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

On the evidence of the aerial photographs, it was demolished between 1946 and the 1970s.

<5> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

<5> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

On the evidence of the aerial photographs, it was demolished between 1946 and the 1970s.

<6> Bluesky International Ltd, 2010, 2010 Bluesky Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH5444.

Recent aerial photography shows pasture.

<7> Earwaker J P, 1890, History of the Ancient Parish of Sandbach, p.89-93 (Book). SCH1431.

The Elworth estates were held by the Raven family from the 13th century until the mid 17th century when it passed to Thomas Hulse, husband of the younger sister William Raven who died without issue. The last owner of Elworth Hall, John Hulse died in 1777 and left a detailed will in which the hall was left to his servants for the rest of their lives and then onto the University of Cambridge.

<8> Nexus Heritage, 2015, Land at Elworth Hall Farm, Dean Close, Sandbach, Cheshire (12/2426C): Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief (Client Report). SCH7877.

Nexus Heritage carried out an archaeological watching brief in 2015 on land at Elworth Hall Farm, Dean Close, Sandbach, during groundworks undertaken for a residential estate. The principal aim of the watching brief was to identify archaeological remains associated with Elworth Hall. Amongst the features investigated and recorded was a complex of wall stubs of brick and stone, internal and external hardstanding floor surfaces, a cellar and a subterranean brick-built drum adjacent to the northern side of the hall, it is thought that this may have served as a septic tank. The eastern and western wall lines recorded on historic OS mapping correlate well with the mapped extents of the external walls and exterior areas. These features relate to the final incarnation of the hall in the second half of the 20th century.

Few artefacts were recovered; a sample of bricks and pavers were recorded. The bricks from the foundation walls of the hall were commonly a smooth, red-orange in appearance, characteristic of 18th century hand-made bricks in Cheshire. Their form correlates with the fact that the hall was in existance by 1777. The brick built drum, from the form of the bricks, appears to be of 19th or early 20th century date. Ceramic pavers stamped with the word 'VITROS' were recorded; these were manugactured by the North Staffordshire Brick & Tile Co. Ltd. Which traded from the mid 1800s through to the 1970s. Also another type of floor tile was recorded which were stamped with 'PLATTS', this company which still operates, was established in Tunstall in 1822. Only two fragments of ceramic vessel were recovered both dating to the 18th-19th centuries. Non of the items were deemed worthy of retention.