Monument record 15459 - Site of Heath Farm, formerly Heath House, Wincham

<1> West Yorkshire Archaeological Service, 2021, Land East of New Warrington Road, Wincham, Cheshire: Archaeological Investigation, R4547 (Client Report). SCH9128.

The site of the former Heath Farm, Heath Lane, Wincham was investigated by an archaeological strip, map and sample in 2021. The scheme of archaeological works comprised an open area excavation targeting part of the farmhouse and yard area to its south side.

The excavation recorded below ground remains of the early 19th-century farmhouse, its associated cobbled yard, pigsties, garden wall, pathways, a well, also an orchard structure interpreted as a possible bee house. Additionally, the remains of stone foundations were encountered which appeared to have been incorporated into the later farmhouse structure. These earlier foundations were constructed of roughly dressed stone lain to course and bonded with a lime mortar and clay; they formed the south-west corner of a building and an internal north-south aligned partition wall. Only a small portion of the room’s floor surface remained and comprised cobble stones and a re-used fragmented millstone set into a clay layer. It was not clear if the surface was contemporary with the earlier stone walls or if the millstone represented an episode of repair associated with the later farmhouse. The stone footings observed may have formed a two-unit type building of probable 18th-century or earlier date. The remains of a possible cobbled yard, thought to be contemporary with this building, were also recorded.

The farmhouse, constructed of early 19th-century handmade bricks bonded with a pink-buff lime mortar, was only partially exposed within the excavation area. It had an L-shape plan form with the remains comprising a south and east wall. The west wall of the earlier stone structure appeared to have been incorporated into the farmhouse east range. The south and east partition wall of the stone structure also may have been incorporated as internal partition walls. Located within the south range of the farmhouse, near to the south wall, a subterranean, rectangular, brick feature was recorded. Within the brick chamber of the feature was a dark grey-black sandy silt with ash and charcoal inclusions. It measured 1.02m east-west, by 0.74m north-south, with a depth of 0.34m and may have functioned as an ash pit, indicating the presence of a ground floor fireplace against the south wall of the farmhouse.

Located along the east side of the excavation area were walls associated with a north-south brick structure. These structural remains have been interpreted as a probable pigsty. The exposed area of the pig housing comprised three yard areas which had been extended into in the first half of the 20th century. The original three pigsty boxes were located at the east side of the yards which lay beyond the limit of excavation, as indicated by historic mapping. The pigsty had been built against the south side of the garden wall and the original brick walls were contemporary with the farmhouse structure. The 20th century alterations to the pigsty indicate a change of use of the structure to workshops and/or implement sheds.

Located within the former orchard area of the farmstead, as indicated by OS mapping, were remains of a truncated, brick built structure interpreted as a bee house. It had a flagstone and brick base and a T-shape plan form. The bricks were handmade and appeared contemporary with the farmhouse and pig housing.

Brick paths and a garden wall were also recorded. The wall was bonded with a pink-buff lime mortar and appeared to be contemporary with the farmhouse structure. Within the garden area, along the east limit of excavation, a brick lined well was recorded. The well had been historically covered over and pipework extending to the south-west indicated it had been used as a pumping well. The well lining comprised handmade bricks bonded with lime mortar. The location of the pump was not clear, but historic mapping indicates that the pump was positioned opposing the south wall of the farmhouse in the south yard area.

It was established that the farmstead was a dairy farm in use throughout the 19th and 20th century. The use of the earlier structure could not be determined and it may have functioned as an agricultural, industrial (salt mining) or domestic building. The buildings displayed episodes of alteration and remodelling, but the farmstead, as a whole, appeared relatively unchanged throughout the 19th and 20th century. It was abandoned and subsequently demolished in the mid-20th century.

The artefactual evidence of the site largely dates to the same period, although some 18th-century pottery was also recovered.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, Wincham Township, 1941 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Heath House/Farm is depicted on the 1841 Tithe Map for Wincham Township. Two buildings are depicted within Plot 78, owned by Edward Venables Townshend, occupied by William Edgeley and described as 'House and Garden'. William Edgeley is also recorded as 'occupying' Plot 79, described as 'Stack Yard'; Plot 80, described as 'Orchard'; also, two buildings immediately to the north of the farmhouse, and which form part of the farm complex, fall within Plot 302, described as 'Public Roads'. Several other fields surrounding the farm also are listed as 'occupied' by William Edgeley.

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

The farm complex, with an additional building to the south-west of the farmhouse, is depicted on the OS First Edition map and labelled as 'Heath House'.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

There is no change on the OS Second Edition map.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

The farm complex remains unchanged on the OS Third Edition map, but is now labelled 'Heath Farm'.