Monument record 1195/1/2 - Swineyard Hall Moat

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68 SE4, Rigg J 29/10/1962 (Index). SCH2487.

Three sides of a moat have been preserved as a stone lined pond.

<2> White, F, 1860, Whites History, Directory & Gazetteer of Cheshire, p.970 (Book). SCH1452.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13502 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument is the moated site of Swineyard Hall. It includes an island measuring c.38m square upon which stands Swineyard Hall. Surrounding the island are three arms of a waterlogged moat preserved as a stone and brick-lined ornamental pond with a width ranging from 6m across the western arm to 14m across the eastern arm by 0.4m deep to the water level. The southern arm has been infilled and a cobbled yard now occupies this area. A modern timber footbridge gives pedestrian access across the northern arm close to its north-western corner and replaced a drawbridge known to have existed until the 1920s. Between the moat's northern arm and Swineyard Lane is an area of lawn beneath which, at a depth of c.0.5m, are areas of cobbling and structural foundations. In the early 14th century the hamlet of Swineyard became the residence of a branch of the Legh family. Swineyard Hall is late 16th century with 19th century additions and is a Listed Building Grade II*. Swineyard Hall and outbuilding, all service pipes, walls, railings, fences, telegraph poles, the timber bridge and the yard are excluded from the scheduling; the ground beneath all these features, however, is included.

<4> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1989/2/7 & 1986/6/14, 16, 18 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.I, p.463 (Book). SCH1389.

Swineyard, (or Swinehead) in the early part of the fourteenth century, became the residence of a younger branch of the Leghs of the East Hall.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6783, 1876-1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Depicts the moat with a causeway in the north-western corner.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 203/2 1848 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Depicts the moat with a causeway in the middle of the northern arm.