Source/Archive record SCH6779 - St Mary's and St Helen's Church: Archaeological Watching Brief

An archaeological watching brief was carried by L – P : Archaeology, on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council, at St Mary's and St Helen's Parish Church, Neston. The archaeological watching brief monitored works to repair and strengthen the southern wall of the churchyard. The site lies to the immediate south of the churchyard within the garden of the Vicarage. St Mary's and St Helen's Parish Church is thought to date to the 12th century, however a 10th century Viking stone grave markers suggest that the site has been used since at least this time. The church has undergone several phases of renovation, with the most recent dating to the late 19th century. The land to the south of the churchyard wall appears to have been undeveloped until the late 20th century, when the vicarage was constructed. The results of the archaeological monitoring shows that the upper 0.45m of material dates to the 19th century and later. Below this a 0.2m layer of natural sand overlies the natural sandstone bedrock at 29.34m AOD, 0.6m below ground level. A single feature was identified on site in the form of a sandstone wall dating to the late 19th century. No evidence of any features pre dating the 19th century were identified on the site.