Monument record 762/1/1 - Medieval monastic grange, Marton Hall Farm

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol .III, p.182 (Book). SCH3228.

Marton, a grange of Vale Royal Abbey. First mentioned in 1225.

<2> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 2/26-29 Curzon J B 1974 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Records for Marton Grange begin circa 1220, the probable date of a charter confirming Ranulph de Merton's entitlement to the land. At the end of the 13th century, the Manor of Merton passed to Vale Royal Abbey and was administered as a grange farm by the monks. In 1539 the Abbey lands were confiscated by Henry VIII and granted to Thos Holcroft, who sold them to the Mainwaring family, who built the Tudor manor house. A quitclaim of 1284 mentions a fishery on the site.

Excavations in 1971 in the north-east of the site revealed a pattern of six ditches, possibly for drainage or internal division, containing 14th century pottery and a 15th century jetton. Two of the ditches cut a gully, which pollen analysis revealed had been in existence before large-scale tree felling. Stephen-de-Merton was fined for tree-felling in 1271 indicating the gully may pre-date that. The possible remains of bonfires were found in the south-west of the area. It appears that there was no permanent medieval occupation indicating that the grange may have been staffed intermittently by monks from Vale Royal

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 2/177 (N) (Book). SCH1389.

<4> Lysons D & Lysons S, 1806-22, Magna Britannia, Lysons D & S 1810 2/818 (Book). SCH2066.

<5> White, F, 1860, Whites History, Directory & Gazetteer of Cheshire, /309 White F & Co 1860 (Book). SCH1452.

<6> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13519 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<7> National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, 1995, A Watching Brief at Marton Hall Farm, Winsford, Cheshire., R2082 (Client Report). SCH4118.

Archaeological watching brief undertaken in September 1995 close to the site of the scheduled medieval moated site, formerly a monastic grange, at Marton Hall Farm, Winsford. This work was part of a planning permission for the construction of a dirty water lagoon for storing farm waste behind the modern farm buildings which lie adjacent to the moat. Two operations were monitored: the cutting of drainage ditches for new pipes throught the existing modern yard and outbuildings and the cutting of the deep lagoon. The only archaeological features in the yard were a small section of pathway, possibly of 18th or 19th century date, and a ditch probably a field boundary. No other archaeology was encountered.