Monument record 1394/1/2 - Chorley Old Hall Medieval Moat

<1> Wilson D et al, 1973-1986, Moated Sites Research Group Records, 1973 (Paper Archive). SCH2205.

Moat at Chorley Hall. Single rectangular moat, now dry, with a bridge on the north; used as pasture, an orchard and a garden (1973).

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ87NW7/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

1964 Ordnance Survey Field Officer comment: 'The moat is well preserved, except for the NW corner. It has a near vertical scarp, up to 0.9m high, but on the west the bank is mutilated and the outer scarp is not portrayable.'

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13497, 1993 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument is the medieval moated site of Chorley Old Hall, the oldest inhabited country house in Cheshire. It includes an island measuring c.70m x 54m that contains Chorley Old Hall and numerous low earthworks. Surrounding the island is a waterlogged moat averaging 12m wide x 1.3m deep to the water level. At the northwestern corner, however, the moat's width has been increased to c.30m and there are two small ornamental islands. A recently improved outlet channel connects with a stream to the west. Access to the island is by a two arched sandstone bridge across the northern arm. An outer bank, 9-11m wide x 0.4m high, flanks the eastern arm and the eastern half of the northern arm.

<4> White, F, 1860, Whites History, Directory & Gazetteer of Cheshire, /882 White F & Co 1860 (Book). SCH1452.

<5> AAA Archaeological Advisors, 2003, Chorley Old Hall, Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Archaeological Evaluation Report, R2482 (Client Report). SCH4498.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 2003, on the platform of the moated site at Chorley Old Hall, in advance of proposed development. The evaluation comprised the hand excavation of three trenches, in an area on the eastern side of the platform, to the south east of the hall buildings. No archaeological remains were encountered. The garden soil lies to a depth of between 0.35m and 0.45m above the natural yellow-grey clay. A sondage of 0.75m in depth in the northern half of trench 2, confirmed that the clay is the true natural substrate and not a deposit from the original excavation of the moat ditch.

<6> Matrix Archaeology, 2013, Chorley Old Hall, Alderley Edge, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation, R3420 (Client Report). SCH7024.

A series of archaeological evaluation trenches were excavated in 2013 within and outwith the moated platform at Chorley Old Hall in advance of proposed development.

Trench 1 investigated a feeder channel linking the fishponds (see 1394/1/4) to the south-west corner of 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.

Trench 2 was located at the south-eastern extent of the property, adajacent to Green Lane to the east. It was located across a north-south ditch which potentially represented an earlier medieval moat feeder channel, as well as a bank on the east side of the ditch. This bank was interpreted as the east toe of an embankment constructed to dam the stream, creating a small pond diverting water into the north-south channel. Both are thought to be medieval in date. The material for the embankment probably came from a large pit located just to the south-west.

Trenches 3 and 4 were dug into the external bank flanking the eastern arm of the moat and measuring up to 12-15m in width. In both trenches, an old, compacted ground surface was encountered overlain by re-deposited clay, interpreted as upcast generated during the construction of the moat.

A further three trenches were opened to investigate an area in the north-east corner of the moat. Features potentially relating to a post medieval pig cote were encountered (see MCH24419), but no significant medieval deposits. Similarly, two trenches located just to the north of the north-east corner of the moat, revealed no significant archaeological deposits.

<6> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, 1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.