Monument record 1405/1/2 - Medieval Mill Pond

<1> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 5/A.056 (Index). SCH1000.

Nether Alderley mill pool. Given two arms in the 16th century to form a decorative moat for the Old Hall (CHER 1404/2/2).

<2> CFA Archaeology Ltd (Manchester), 2024, The Old Hall, Nether Alderley, Cheshire: Archaeological Recording and Monitoring and Historic Building Recording, R4807 (Client Report). SCH9690.

Archaeological recording and monitoring and historic building recording were carried out in 2021 and 2022 at the Old Hall in advance of the construction of an extension to the Hall and dredging of the associated moat and lake. Dredging of the lake recorded Deposit 203, an organic-rich dark brownish black sandy silt which had accumulated over time on the lake bed and ranged in depth from 0.3m-1m. No archaeological features were seen in the natural geology beneath Deposit 203 and no artefacts were seen to come out of Deposit 203. A single section of east to west orientated stone wall was identified on the northern edge of the lake, which may have formed part of a historic leat/water course feeding the lake in the past. 15.5m of its length survived, and it was approximately 0.3m wide and 0.85m tall. It was constructed of grey and red sandstone blocks of various sizes bound together by finely milled light grey mortar, with occasional infilling or repairs made from brick. A series of culverts were uncovered in the eastern field; these were built with brick walls and sandstone or limestone caps, and all led to an outlet in the eastern edge of the lake. The culverts were likely post-medieval in origin.