Monument record 73 - Lovel's Hall moated site and fishpond

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ48SE2/1961 (Index). SCH2487.

Lovel's Hall. A square moated platform c. 60m square. Ditch is dry up to 22m wide and 1.6m deep. Small extension of ditch to south-east. No trace of building.

<2> Poole C 1906, 1906, Old Widnes and Its Neighbourhood, Poole C 1906 /248-50 (Oral Communication). SCH2326.

Said to be residence of Francis Lovel, created Viscount Lovel by Richard I, but attainted 1485 when house and lands given to Earl of Derby.

<3> Capstick B, 1981-1987, Field Monument Warden Report, Capstick B 1986 (Unpublished Report). SCH1222.

Outline is now very ploughed, the ditch filled and the outer bank is levelled.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13435 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Grassy platform c50m square surrounded by dry moat up to 23m wide and 1.6m deep. Rectangular extension on E, 15m x 8m x 1m is interpreted as a fishpond. A low bank 0.1m high x 1m wide crosses site from W-E and is probably a former field boundary.

<5> Lewis J, 2000, The Medieval Earthworks of the Hundred of West Derby, p.232 (Monograph). SCH3778.

Lovels House was held by Sir Robert de Holland and his successors in the 14th century if not earlier. It seems likely that this represents the principal medieval holding in Halewood. Its name is presumable taken from ownership of the Lovell family after the marriage of John Lovell to Maud Holland in 1323-4. In 1843 the site was overlain by fields called Carts (Court) Yards and fields named Linnow lay to the south, which may be derived from the Linale park which was noted in 1323-4. The site is represented by a series of grassy hollows and platforms with a small ditch extension to the south-east. Its outline is very ploughed out and the outer bank has been levelled. Abandonment may date from 1487 when the Lovell estates were forfeited and Hale and Halewood passed to the earls of Derby. Its archaeological potential is untested.

<6> Various, Written Communication to the HER, 21/11/2019, Liverpool Museum (Written Communication). SCH3756.

Correspondance from Liverpool Museum of the find of a small, late nineteenth century, stoneware bottle at the site of Lovel's Hall.

<7> Oxford Archaeology North, 2005, Ditton Rail Freight Park, Widnes, Cheshire; Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment., R2638 (Client Report). SCH4755.

<8> Stratscan, 2006, Geophysical Survey Report; Ditton, Widnes, Cheshire., R2617 (Client Report). SCH4682.

A geophysical survey was carried out in the area of Lovel's Hall in 2006. The site of Lovel's Hall is represented within the gradiometer data as positive linear anomalies indicating the cut of the moat. A number of other positive linear anomalies are evident in close proximity to the site of Lovel's Hall. Further investigation may ascertain whether these ditches relate to the defnce of the Hall or if they had a different function and date entirely. Further discrete positive anomalies are evident within and around the site of Lovel's Hall. These anomalies have been interpreted as pits of possible archaeological origin.

The detailed resistance survey undertaken over the site of Lovel's Hall was dominated by area anomalies. This indicates that the moat has been backfilled, possibly using rubble form the Hall. Areas of high resistance within the earthworks indicate areas of possible structural remains or compacted earth. A number of high resistance linear anomalies represent the presence of possible structural remains or compacted earth. A number of high resistance linear anomalies represent the presence of possible structural remains to the south-west of the Hall site.