Monument record 1394/1/4 - Chorley Old Hall Fishponds

<1> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Turner RC, 1984 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Three fishponds to the south of the moat at Chorley Old Hall.

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

These are identified as channels and banked enclosures by the Moated Sites Research Group.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13497 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

South of the moat is a set of waterlogged fishponds. The westernmost is of sub-rectangular form measuring c.9m x 8m. It connects via a short channel to an L-shaped pond that is fed from a stream by a recently improved inlet channel entering at its south-western corner. This pond measures c.40m north-south x 30m east-west. A recently improved outlet channel issues from its north-western corner to flow over an ornamental waterfall and enter the moat at the south-western corner. A third fishpond, c.16m x 12m, lies to the east and connects with the L-shaped pond via a short channel. Further to the south is a dry fishpond c.17m x 6.5m x 0.8m deep that possesses an outlet channel into a stream on its south side.

<4> Matrix Archaeology, 2013, Chorley Old Hall, Alderley Edge, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation, R3420 (Client Report). SCH7024.

In 2012, Chorley Old Hall, the moated enclosure and surrounding land were subject to an archaeological evaluation, comprising a series of archaeological trial pits and trenches, excavated in support of a planning application for development of the site. Trial pit 1 was located at the south-west external corner of the moat immediately adjacent to the moat feeder channel leading from the northern extremity of the fishponds to the moat. A north-south trench cut into clay probably represented the original west flank of the channel, thought to have been cut between 1964 and 1979. A later, adjacent channel, embanked with concrete-filled sandbags, was probably inserted during the period 1970-85 when the ponds were constructed.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Monk J, 26/09/2017 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Evidence provided by air photographs and historic mapping support a later twentieth century date for the fishponds. They are not identifiable on photography dating to the 1940s (see 6), but appear on photos dating from the 1980s (see 7). On 1970s photos (see 8), a defined north-south channel linking the moat to a watercourse to the south, is visible. Additionally, the pond complex is not depicted on either the Tithe Map for the area (see 9) or nineteenth/early twentieth century historic Ordnance Survey Mapping (see 9-12).

<6> GeoInformation Group, 1945-1948, 1945-1948 RAF National Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH8190.

<7> Airviews Ltd, 1983-5, 1983-1985 Airviews Survey, Run 13 no.37545, 08/06/1985 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5296.

<8> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 73 74, Run 39 no.1902, 07/06/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

<9> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 103/2, 1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8378, 1872-1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8378, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<12> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8378, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

<13> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite DTM 1m (02/02/2022) (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

The earthworks associated with the ponds and channels are visible on this survey.