Monument record 438/4 - St Elphin's Rectory/Parsonage House

The earliest recorded Rectory of St. Elphin's Church is in the the 13th century. The Rent Roll of 1465 refers to a Rectory and Barns. In 1701 the site comprised of an 8-bayed parsonage and a 3-bayed barn, stable, orchid and garden with a moat. All of this had fallen into dis-repair by 1767. It was repaired in 1803 (1) (5) but demolished in 1832 when the moat was infilled and the new house built (3). In 1960 the remains of the moat were still visible on the south, east and west arms only, the north arm being totally obliterated by the new Rectory. There were slight remains of the inner scarp, 0.7m on the south, 0.3m on the east and west arms. In the 19th century, the Rectory was demolished and replaced by a new building in 1976. The moat is currently covered by a housing estate (2). 1970-71 excavations revealed parts of the Parsonage and its associated structures, including a possible wine cellar. Pottery from the 16th to 18th centuries was also found. The moat was shown to be 44ft to 55ft wide and 9ft deep with a sandstone bridge 20ft wide (4).

A moat was mentioned in 1701 and again in 1803 at which time the Rectory was described as ' ... a low picturesque, old building ... having projected windows and mullioned windows'. The Rectory was demolished in 1832 and the moat filled in. More recently the platform seems to have been levelled when the new Rectory was built in 1965 and the whole area is now covered in modern housing. The site was shown on a drawnplan in 1772 and the 1826 plan shows that the church and rectory lay close to Mote Hill the centre of the hundredal administration and occupied untill the mid 13th century. In 1970 - 71, 13 - 14 % of the platform was excavated which was smaller than expected. No early buildings were identified and only part of the post medieval rectory was located. Foundations of a sandstone bridge associated with three upright timber posts were found approximately in the centre of the north arm of the moat. Two small sandstone buildings were interpreted as privies and ceramic evidence suggests that they were in use between 1500 - 1650. Most of the pottery was recovered from the moat and included a small quantity of medieval material in poor condition with a larger amount of post medieval ceramics ranging from the 16th to the 19th century (6).

<1> Grealey S, 1976, The Archaeology of Warrington's Past, /40-42 (Book). SCH3046.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1980 SJ68NW60 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Beamont W, 1878, Warrington Church Notes, /87+122 (Book). SCH3681.

<4> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Leigh A 1977 60/94-102 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<5> Unknown, 1700, "The Terrier of Warrington" Mss. Minute book of Warrington Parish Church (Manuscript). SCH3012.

<6> Lewis J, 2000, The Medieval Earthworks of the Hundred of West Derby (Monograph). SCH3778.