Monument record 134/1 - Hall O'Lee

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ85NW2 (Index). SCH2487.

Site given as moat on 1913 OS Map (23/11/1962). A field visit on 23/09/1964 notes that the earthwork is too irregular to be considered a moat and is probably, instead, a marl pit. The floor of the south arm shelves up towrds the east in the fashion of a marl pit and there is now evidence that there was ever complete enclosure.

<2> Wilson D et al, 1973-1986, Moated Sites Research Group Records, 1982 (Paper Archive). SCH2205.

Site filled in 1970s.

<3> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

The hall is first noted on Burdett's map of 1777.

<4> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, P248 (Book). SCH785.

Lawton hall was probably built sometime between 1736 and 1770 and may have used some architectual features from the "Old Hall on a nearby moated site", this may refer to Lea Hall, suggesting that this hall, or another on the same site, may have been at least 17th Century.

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester (Book). SCH1389.

Omerod notes that a Lawton Hall was visited by Charles II suggesting that there was an older hall than the standing Lawton Hall. He also states that the Hall was the home of J Cartwright and J M Toler at times during the post medieval period, who both have memorials in the All Saints Church near Lawton Hall.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The Hall and moat are marked on the Ordnance survey first editions, although the hall is offset suggesting that if the earthwork is a moat then an earlier hall was present.

<7> Heaton, Thomas, 1839, Plan of the Parish of Church Lawton in the County of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH4534.

The 1839 tithe Map shows a L-Shaped flooded ditch, slightly irregular and a gap between field boundaries that would suggest a third 'arm'. There is a suggestion that the land is scrub and there is a small building on the Western side; it appears that the field, or moat platform, is not used agriculturally.

<8> Oxford Archaeology North, 2004, Lawton Hall, Cheshire. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, Building Investigation and Watching Brief, R2499 (Client Report). SCH4520.

A desk-based assessment was produced in 2004 for Lawton Hall. Church Lawton has medieval origins and was probably part of the parish of Middlewich. The exact position and extent of the medieval village is not clear. The Lawton family is known to be connected with the area from the late twelfth century and Lawton Hall is thought to have originated in at least the late twelfth century. A number of houses are thought to have existed on the site of Lawton Hall (or possibly other locations), several of which are thought to have burned down. The existing Hall was built largely in the eighteenth century apparently re-using parts of an earlier building.

<9> Heaton, Thomas, 1839, Plan of the Parish of Church Lawton in the County of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH4534.