Monument record 353/1/3 - St Margaret's Churchyard

<1> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 445/2 c.1843 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map shows a relative small sub oval churchyard surrounding the church.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5947, 1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The churchyard has expanded south into what is recorded on (1) as Church Hatch Croft, removing a road or lane in the process. The Ordnance Survey map shows two small free standing structures within this southerly extension. They are coincidental with the label 'Post Office'.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5947, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

The small churchyard structures depicted on (2) are no longer extant.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5947, 1910 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

The churchyard has been expanded a small amount to the north. The original boundary is still largely extant.

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

There has been a larger extension of the churchyard to the north of the church.

<6> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.691 (Book). SCH7059.

In the churchyard is a chest tomb to the Hassall family (1847) with an unusual cast-iron top.

<7> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 422448 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Early nineteenth century cast iron railings, gates and gatepiers. Central drive gates with single wicket gates to either side, four gatepiers and railings to either side. All the palings have stylised arrrow head finials with cusped openings to the centre. The four gatepiers have moulded bases and cyma moulded caps rising to pinecone finials. Their sides have panels of diamond lattice with cusping forming quatrefoils.

<8> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 1994, Churchyardside Cottage, Wrenbury, Cheshire: An Archaeological Assessment, p.3 (Client Report). SCH4131.

The curvilinear churchyard, particularly evident on the tithe map (see (1)) before the later graveyard extensions and straightening of boundaries occurred, is perhaps indicative of an ancient enclosed religious site.