Monument record 15204 - Excavated Rock Cut Well, Red Lion Hotel, Malpas

<1> L-P Archaeology, 2020, Archaeological Watching Brief Report: Red Lion Hotel, Malpas, R4464 (Client Report). SCH8928.

An archaeological watching brief was carried out in 2019 during re-development of the Red Lion Hotel, Malpas. A rock cut well was recorded close to the perimeter of the building. No dateable evidence was recovered due to the depth of the well, however, it is not marked on nineteenth or early 20th century historic mapping which may suggest it is of some antiquity. The neighbouring Well Street is thought to be named from Town Well (shown at the bottom of Well Street on Bryant’s map of 1831) and Dodgson also notes documentary references to ‘fons de Malo Passu’ (1352) and ‘le Walleway’ (1404). The well uncovered during the watching brief was most likely sunk to provide water for the 'Lion Inn' recorded on Bryant’s map of 1831 (CHER 14324). The archaeological investigations have also included examination of the internal fabric of the former hotel and have found evidence of an earlier timber-framed building at both ground floor and first floor level, potentially dating to the 17th century.