Monument record 15134 - Site of a Post Medieval Building to the South-East of Puseydale Farm

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2020, Land to the Rear of No.21 Main Road, Shavington, Cheshire East, CW2 5DY: Report on the Results of an Archaeological Strip and Record Excavtion, R4437 (Client Report). SCH8881.

The tithe map for the township of Rope (see 2) depicts a structure located to the south-east of Puseydale Farm. The accompanying tithe apportionment describes Plot 68 as containing a ‘house, garden and enclosure’ owned by Sir John Delves-Broughton and occupied by William Dobson. This structure had gone by the first edition Ordnance Survey map (see 3).

In 2020 a proposed development included the site of Plot 68. An excavation carried out ahead of the development revealed evidence for the building depicted on the tithe map. This comprised several postholes, suggesting a structure constructed from earthfast posts. The building appears to have measured approximately 8.4m in length and 6.7m in width, with the long axis aligned north-east to south-west, and totalling an area of approximately fifty-six square metres. Some of the postholes may represent additional structural support-work, or internal divisions and/or internal structural elements. However, no surviving evidence for internal floor surfaces or other above-ground structural elements survived either internally or externally. This lack of surviving evidence for features such as floor surfaces, hearths, paths and so forth, strongly suggests that most of the materials deemed to be reusable, or of monetary value, were systematically removed during the building’s destruction. Indeed, the presence of a complete pottery vessel within the base of one of the postholes indicated the deliberate removal of the timber post.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 342/2 c.1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6951, 1876 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.