Monument record 604/1/0 - Medieval Manor of the Pesfurlong Family, Old Abbey Farm, Risley

<1> Winterburn J M, 1977, Complete History of Culcheth (Book). SCH964.

<2> Farrer W & Brownbill J, 1906-14, The Victoria County History of the County of Lancaster, 4/159 Farrer W & Brownbill J (eds) 1906-14 (Book). SCH3636.

On the death of Gilbert de Culcheth in 1246, the manor of Culcheth was divided into 4 smaller manors - Culcheth, Risley, Holcroft & Peasfurlong. Peasfurlong was assessed as "all the waste between the Southwood & the Westwood & between Peasfurlong & Croft which could be ploughed & sown". Peasfurlong was assigned to Elizabeth, 2nd daughter of Gilbert. She married Adam de Hindley, who took the name Peasfurlong. Their daughter married Richard de Radcliffe. Manor stayed with the Radcliffes upto 16th C & passed to a younger branch of the family headed by Robert, Lord Fitzwalter, created earl of Sussex in 1529. Estate sold to Sir John Holcroft of Holcroft Hall. In 1549 manor consisted of 16 messuages, 3 cottages, 400 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 6 acres of wood, 300 acres of moss, 40 acres of heath & moor & 2 water mills. 1605 estate sold to Calverley family who also bought manor of Holcroft. Sometime before 1642 estate reverted back to Holcrofts who held it until end of 17th C or early 18th C when it went to the Standishes of Duxbury. Location of Peasfurlong manor house uncertain, possibly Old Abbey Farm or New Hall Farm (largest farm in 1756), but latter may be a replacement of the original site.

<3> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1990, Old Abbey Farm, Risley, Warrington., R2004 (Client Report). SCH4201.

Archaeological and listed building appraisal undertaken in March/April 1990 by the Lancaster Archaeological Unit at Old Abbey Farm, Risley, Cheshire in advance of the development of a waste disposal landfill site. The farmstead at Old Abbey Farm comprises a small moated homestead occupied by a Grade II listed farmhouse (see 604/1/1) dating to the early mid-seventeenth century with later additions. Additionally, beyond the partially infilled moat (see 604/1/3) is a Grade II listed barn (see 604/1/2) also dated to the seventeenth century. The programme of work comprised a geophysical survey of selected areas of the island and moat, a contour survey of the area surrounding the farmhouse, a building survey of the two listed buildings and an appraisal of the documentary and cartographic evidence relating to the site.

The geophysical survey examined two areas for which the recorded anomalies appeared to coincide with the location of the moated enclosure. The anomalies indicate that the moat had been infilled with rubble. Seven trial trenches were excavated specifically located to investigate the dimensions and character of the infilled moat (trenches 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), the areas of resisitivity anomalies (trench 4), and the depth of any surviving stratigraphy on the island (trench 3) and adjacent to the listed barn (trench 7).

<4> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1997, Old Abbey Farm, Risley, Cheshire: Archaeological Assessment Report, R2159 (Client Report). SCH4056.

Further archaeological assessment undertaken at Old Abbey Farm between June 1994 and February 1995. The work comprised further documentary research, field survey, the recording and demolition of the grade II listed farmhouse and barn, also excavation of the farmhouse footings, the moated platform, the causeway and moat, and selected areas outwith the moat. Dendrochronological samples of recovered timbers was also undertaken allowing a chronology for the site to be developed.

<5> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1999, Old Abbey Farm, Risley, near Warrington, Cheshire: Building Survey and Excavation at a Medieval Moated Site, R2306 A+B (Client Report). SCH3961.

Final reports produced in 1999 for the programme of recording at Old Abbey Farmhouse, 1994 - 1995. The multi-disciplinary analysis of the results, together with a programme of dendrochronological sampling, has allowed a single account of the chronology and development of the site to be constructed.

Re-used medieval timbers in the farmhouse suggest the presence of an open aisled hall, with a steeply pitched roof, on the site in the thirteenth or very early fourteenth century. In the late medieval period it is probable that the aisles were removed and new timber-framing built below the arcade plates. An excavated clay floor either relates to the modified hall, or perhaps an earlier structure. The moat and platform could not be independently dated, but appear to be at least as old as the re-used timbers (see also 604/1/3). It is not clear how the moat was crossed in the earlier medieval period, but waterlogged timbers recovered demonstrate that a substantial timber bridge was constructed in the mid fifteenth century. Documentary sources indicate that the site lay at the centure of the manorial estate of Pesfurlong, founded in the mid-thirteenth century (see also 604/1/0).

A crosswing was added to the hall in the mid-sixteenth century; elements of the timber frame were found within the farmhouse and represent the earliest in situ remains. The footings of a sandstone bridge may also date to this period. From the mid-seventeenth century to the mid-eighteenth century, the house was subject to piecemeal underpinning and rebuilding in brick. The brick Lancashire-type barn (see also 604/1/2) was also built at this time.

<6> UK Waste Management Ltd, Risley Moated Site The Story So Far (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH4562.