Monument record 386/1 - Mickley Hall Moat

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 64 NW 5 (Index). SCH2487.

Mickley Hall, is mentioned in an Itinerary of Nantwich Hundred written in 1621 (see 2a). Included in a list of homestead moats in Cheshire, is Mickley Hall, in Broomhall between Nantwich and Audlem (see 3). [E.M. Penney. 08/03/1961]

Annotated 25 inch re-survey of the moat. It is square and the internal platform retains no trace of buildings. The moat survives on three sides as a dry grassed earthwork, the west side is now only a slight hollow. The present Mickley Hall is a modern building [J.H. White. F.I. 04/09/1961]

Published survey (1963) checked and found correct. [T.P. Waggott. F.I. 01/10/1964]

<2b> King, D, Streater, J, Crew, R, Chaloner, J, Lee, S, Webb, W, Smith, W, 1656, The Vale-Royall of England, or, The County Palatine of Chester Illustrated (Book). SCH3248.

<2a> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p.289 (Book). SCH1389.

"[demesne] ...of the Cheswiss, called the hall of Mickley..."

<3> Harrison, W, 1907, Early maps of Lancashire and their makers, p.154 (Article in Journal). SCH9448.

<4> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 71/2, c.1842 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts a water filled moat. The ditch is depicted on all sides except the north-western corner. The plot is described as 'garden and moat'.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6347, 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

As depicted on the tithe map (see 4). Labelled 'moat'.

<6> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, CPE\UK\1935 no.1466, 17/01/1947 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

The outline of the moat is visible in the field boundaries. Although difficult to distinguish, earthworks associated with the moat appear to still be extant.

<7> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 73 57, run 27, no.1996, 16/05/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The field boundaries in this area have been removed and earthworks appear levelled.

<8> JA Story & Partners, 1985, 1985 Story & Partners Survey, Film 2985, run 21, no.012, 30/05/1985 (Aerial Photograph). SCH2993.

Farm buildings have encroached on to the northern part of the moat.

<9> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite DTM 1m 2022 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

This data suggests that the eastern arm of the moat utilised an existing north-east to south-west aligned wide linear depression. Part of the possible southern arm of the moat may also survive as an earthwork bisected by a later feature.