Monument record 7892 - Bostock Hall Walled Garden and Ancilliary Buildings

<1> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1996, Bostock Hall, Cheshire: Structural Survey and Evaluation Report, R2146 (Client Report). SCH4072.

Archaeological evaluation undertaken in May 1996 within the Walled Garden of Bostock Hall and structural survey of a group of structures to the north of the walled garden prior to a scheme of re-development.

The earliest cartographic depiction of the Walled Garden is the 1839 Tithe Map. The subsequent OS 1st edition map of 1875 shows the garden to have a geometric pattern with four paths which converged on a central fountain from the middle of each external wall. The trial excavations confirmed the layout of the garden as depicted on the OS map of 1875 and also identified two phases of beds. The earlier phase, dated to the 18th century, were orientated at an angle of circa 20 degrees to the paths. The later phase, dating to the late 19th/20th centuries, were orientated parallel to the paths. Evidence for earlier activity was also revealed comprising a poorly defined feature of medieval date and a single sherd of Roman pottery from a build-up layer.

The structural recording of the standing buildings (structures 1-4) to the north-west of the Walled Garden confirmed the map evidence available which indicates that these structures were in place by the 19th century and probably date to the mid to late 19th century. From the 1909 1:2500 OS map evidence, structures 1-3 appear to form part of 'The Pheasantry' and, structure 4, 'The Aviary'. However, it was not possible to check all of the plan features shown on this map in detail due to vegetation cover.