Monument record 456/1/2 - Medieval Moat at Bruche Hall

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1842-1893, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Lancashire, 1849 (Maps and Plans). SCH3844.

Moat still surviving in 19th century when 2 irregular frags of water are shown on the north side of Bruche Hall on OS 6inch map.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68NW3/1960 (Index). SCH2487.

In 1960 there were slight remains of the counterscarp of a moat surviving for a length of 82m & with an average height of 1m. The remains of the moat were dry, but on the north was a stream which probably supplied the moat at the eastern end of the counterscarp.

<3> Mike Griffiths & Associates, 1992, St Bednedict's Convent, Warrington. An Archaeological Appraisal for the Sisters of the Cross and Passion, R2127 (Client Report). SCH4084.

An archaeological investigation at the site of the former medieval moated Bruche Hall, within the grounds of St. Benedicts Convent, occurred in January 1992. The work, which comprised the excavation of 13 trial holes and a single two metre square evaluation trench, failed to identify either the existence or location of the moated site or the survival of any stratified archaeological deposits. However, the evaluation did establish the existance of an unexpectedly high water table to the north of the grounds and a high proportion of alluvial sediment. The demolition of Bruche Hall in the 1960's and the subsequent spreading of demolition debris resulted in a substantial raising of the present ground level, especially to the immediate north of the Convent.

<4> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 1996, An Archaeological Watching Brief at St Benedicts Convent, Bruche Avenue, Warrington., R2163 (Client Report). SCH4052.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 1996 during groundworks for a residential development. Although little evidence for the early occupation of the moated site was observed, a deeply cut pit of indeterminate date was founnd in a trench on east of the site. Also the general line of north arm of the moat was confirmed and a trench in the north-west corner of the site probably established the line of the western arm of the moat, with layers of organic material and sandy silt above natural clay subsoil. Finds from the lower fills of the moat indicate that a programme of cleaning out took place, probably in the nineteenth century. Finds included pottery of eighteenth to twentieth century date.