Monument record 758/1/10 - Large ditch/boundary, to the west of Vale Royal Abbey

<1> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1997, Vale Royal Golf Course and Housing Developments, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report, R2167 (Client Report). SCH4048.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 1996 at Vale Royal Abbey in advance of development of a proposed new housing development and 18 hole golf course. The first phase of assessment comprised a documentary study and identification survey; the second phase involved magnetometer and resistivity surveys. The results of the first two stages then informed the position of trial trenches in the third stage of work. The trenches were positioned to investigate areas of greatest proposed disturbance, areas of archaeological potential, and control areas where no archaeological resource had been identified. In trench 19 (ditch 35), a large ditch was recorded to the circa 50m west of the Abbey Church; it is thought that it may represent the inner precinct boundary of the monastery. The ditch was orientated north-south and approximately parallel to the long axis of the church. It measured some 4.2m wide and in excess of 1m, so was a substantial feature. The outer precinct of the abbey was marked by a 'great ditch' dug in 1283 setting the abbey apart from its surroundings (see source 2).

<2> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1995, Vale Royal Golf Course, Cheshire: Phase 1 Archaeological Evaluation Interim Report, R2124 (Client Report). SCH4087.