C ASTLERING ARCHAEOLOG Y

R E P O R T N O . 7 0 2

PHASE 2 DEVELOPMENT ON LAND

SOUTH OF KINNERTON LANE

HIGHER KINNERTON

FLINTSHIRE

SJ 326 617

ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

JANUARY 2020

CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 2

CONTRACTED BY ELAN HOMES

OAK HOUSE, OAKS BUSINESS PARK, LLOYD DRIVE,

ELLESMERE PORT,

CH65 9HQ

UNDERTAKEN BY

PAT FROST, CONSULTANT ARCHAEOLOGIST, BA, PGDIP, MCIFA

CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY

33 STALLION LANE, PONTESBURY, SHROPSHIRE, SY5 0PN

01743792297 / 07971751978

Email:[email protected]

www.castleringarchaeology.co.uk

CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 3

SYNOPSIS

This archaeological assessment has been undertaken to accompany a planning application for a second phase of residential development on land south of Kinnerton Lane, , .

The desk-based assessment undertaken in advance of Phase 1 development, on land to the east, elicited that both sites formed part of the rural agricultural landscape that surrounds the present small settlement at Higher Kinnerton, which had remained relatively undeveloped from the time of Post-medieval enclosure until the 20th century.

The proposed Phase 2 development comprises former open parkland associated with Crompton Hall estate and the later Kinnerton Lodge estate. The only evidence of parkland on the site today is a few isolated trees, which the proposals will retain. The site visit has confirmed that the current land-use comprises relatively flat former grazing land.

Documentary, cartographic and aerial surveys have given no indication of potential archaeology on the site and the site visit has confirmed that there is no above-ground evidence of or the potential for any archaeological features.

In view of the above, this assessment concludes that the proposed development on this site will have no adverse impact on the archaeological resource and the landscaping programme will alleviate any potential impact on the two nearby listed buildings.

Every effort has been made to provide accurate information within this report. However, Castlering Archaeology cannot be held responsible for any errors and inaccuracies contained therein.

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CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Aims of the Assessment

3. Methodology

4. General Background History

5. Conclusions

6. Acknowledgements

7. References

Appendix 1: Sites of Archaeological Interest Referred to in the Text

Abbreviations: c. circa BC Before Christ CIfA Chartered Institute for Archaeologists CPAT Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust FRO Flintshire Record Office HER Historic Environment Record m metre mAOD metre above Ordnance Datum MCIfA Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists NGR National Grid Reference OS Ordnance Survey PRN Primary Record Number

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This archaeological assessment has been undertaken to accompany a planning application for a second phase of residential development on land south of Kinnerton Lane, Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, CH4 9AA, at the request of the developer.

1.2 The application site comprises approximately 10.2 acres of grazing land enclosed by mixed boundaries, lying at approximately 40mAOD and fronting the south side of Kinnerton Lane. The southern boundary is formed by Crompton Hill Farm and its adjoining grazing land. The western boundary is formed by the tree lined boundary with Kinnerton Lodge and the eastern boundary adjoins the recently completed Phase 1 residential development known as Kinnerton Meadows, for which a programme of archaeological work was undertaken (Fig. 1 following).

Phase 1 development

1.3 In February 2016, a desk-based assessment undertaken by the author in advance of the Phase 1 development elicited that although there was no above ground archaeological evidence within the site, the 1842 Tithe map showed a dwelling on the site and the later 1871 OS map recorded the addition of a roadside smithy, which operated alongside the dwelling and agricultural holding. The buildings were unrecorded in 1899, although a nearby well was still identified (Castlering Archaeology Report No. 537).

1.4 As a result of the above, in February 2017, archaeological investigations were undertaken on the site, primarily to locate and record any sub-surface evidence of buildings recorded on the site by 1842 and 1871 maps, prior to development. The site investigations showed that little structural evidence of the buildings recorded on 19th century maps had survived after their demolition. Nonetheless, it was possible to make a record of part of the former buildings by planning their footing trenches, the infill of which made a stark contrast to the natural clay. South of the area of archaeological investigations, a search for the site of the well recorded in 1899 had negative results (Castlering Archaeology Report No. 595).

Phase 2 development

1.5 The proposed Phase 2 works comprises the residential development and the creation of green areas and ponds linked by estate roads (Fig. 2 following).

Planning and the Archaeological Resource

1.6 The role of planning authorities in respect of the archaeological resource is defined by legislation at both national and local level. This assessment has been undertaken at the request of the developer to provide information about the archaeological sensitivity of the site in line with the following guidance:

Welsh Office Planning Guidance, 2018, Planning Policy Guidance : Chapter 6 Conserving the Historic Environment (Edition 10);

Welsh Office, 2017, Planning Policy Wales Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment.

These documents define The Welsh Government’s objectives in respect of preserving, enhancing and protecting the historic environment (namely statutory designated and undesignated heritage assets, conservation areas, above and below ground archaeological remains, the historic landscape and the built heritage).

1.7 At a local level, Flintshire Council has the statutory duty to manage and protect the historic environment. Policy Paper 3 of the Local Development Plan (LDP) for the County includes the proposals to protect, conserve and wherever possible enhance sites and features of historic and built heritage importance, including those of archaeological, architectural, heritage conservation and historic interest. (http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/PDFFiles/Planning/Topic-papers/Built-and-Historic-Environment.pdf). CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 6

Fig. 1: Proposed Phase 2 Development Site viewed from the south with Phase 1 under construction to the right

(Google-earth imagery date 25/06/2018)

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Fig. 2: Proposed Phase 2 Development

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2. AIMS OF THE ASSESSMENT

The principle aims of the assessment are to:

 evaluate the archaeological resource by identifying previously recorded and potential sites of archaeological interest, including above ground structures, earthworks or find scatters, within or bordering the application site;

 determine the potential for any negative / positive impact on the archaeological resource that may exist on the site;

 inform further works and any subsequent mitigation strategy in order to eliminate and / or minimise any adverse repercussions that the proposed works may have on the said resource.

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 The assessment has been undertaken using proven archaeological techniques, which comply with Guidelines and Codes of Conduct set out by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA, 2014a); in particular the Standard & Guidance for an historic environment desk-based assessment (CIfA, 2014b).

3.2 In order to build a chronology of the past land use on the site, the desk-based study has consulted relevant readily available records held by the Historic Environment Record (HER) held by Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, Welshpool (CPAT) and cartographic and documentary records held by Flintshire Archives, .

3.3 The data have been collated together with information gained from online sources. All sources consulted are listed in Section 11 following and HER records are listed by their Primary Record Number (PRN) in Appendix 1.

3.4 The desk-based study was complemented by a site visit undertaken on January 3rd 2020 in order to:

 assess the current land-use and topography

 identify the presence / absence of earthworks and / or structures on the site

 assess the potential for buried archaeological deposits

 relate the existing landscape to the results of the desk-based assessment

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4. GENERAL BACKGROUND HISTORY

Landscape & Geology

4.1 In view of the close proximity, the background history of the Phase 2 site is similar to that of the Phase 1 development. Therefore much of the background information is drawn from the 2016 assessment (Castlering Archaeology Report No. 537). Both sites lie within a generally flat agricultural landscape on the north-western side of the expanding village of Higher Kinnerton. The village lies on the Welsh side of the border between and Wales; approximately 10km from Wrexham to the southeast and to the northeast.

4.2 The solid geology comprises Triassic Sandstones of the Formation laid down in desert-like conditions approximately two to three hundred million years ago (BGS 1999, Sheet 108). The sandstones are overlain by boulder clay and gravelly sands, the result of retreating ice sheets during the last major period of glaciation in the Devensian period (approximately 9,000 years bp).

4.3 During the early post-glacial period sea level lay about 35 metres below its present level. The application site and its environs would have been on the edge of a deep and wide river valley, well inland, on a low coastal plain that stretched from the north Wales coast across Liverpool Bay to the Isle of Man and the Lake District. A rapid rise in sea level took place between about 10,000 and 3,000 BC due to the melting of the glaciers; the consequent flooding of the great coastal plain created the broad valley of the River Dee.

4.4 A major change to the wider landscape surrounding the came with the canalisation of the river in the 1730s, when a new cut was constructed across the Marshes to alleviate problems of shipping. The application site lies at approximately 40m AOD on ground sloping gently north-eastwards towards the Saltney Marshes and the canalised section of the Dee, c.5.5km to the northeast.

Evidence of Human Occupation

4.5 The earliest evidence of humans in Wales as a whole dates from about 225,000 BC, the date given to human teeth found in Pontnewydd Cave in the Elwy Valley in Denbighshire. Continuous settlement by humans began at the end of the latest Ice Age in about 9,000BC, when retreating glaciers caused sea levels to rise and Britain became an island. By about 5,000BC Wales had attained roughly the shape it has today.

4.6 Although the Historic Environment Record records a cropmark of potential Prehistoric date in a field to the west of Kinnerton Lodge, based on evidence from an undated and anonymous aerial photograph which showed an earthwork, the site was discounted by the OS in 1975. The OS interpreted the feature as the remains of old field boundaries spread by ploughing (PRN 101348).

The Anglo-Saxon placename

4.7 Focussing on the application site there is little documented history of the site or its environs prior to the medieval period. Higher Kinnerton or Kinnerton is unrecorded in the Domesday Survey by name, although at the time it was probably part of the estate of Earl Edwin of Mercia, who died in 1071. The placename has varied over the centuries and may have derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Cyneheard’s tun’ or Cyneheard’s farm’. Cyneheard is believed to have been an 8th century warrior.

Manorial ownerships

4.8 Higher Kinnerton was once one of the townships of the Lordship of Hawarden, although never within the Parish of Hawarden (Pritchard 2002, 13). The earliest documentary reference to the settlement is believed to be as ‘Kynarton’ in 1240 (http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk). The Lordship of Hawarden was leased in 1436 by Sir Thomas Stanley, the third husband of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor by her first marriage. In CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 10

1484, Thomas was granted the Lordship of Hope by Richard III in his unsuccessful attempt to gain his loyalty. At this time Higher Kinnerton lay within the Parish and within the Lordship of Hope. Following Henry Tudor’s success at the Battle of Bosworth and the death of Richard III, Thomas was created the first Baron Stanley in 1455 and granted a considerable amount of land by his stepson, the new king.

4.9 In 1653, when the 7th Earl of Derby was executed for his part in the Battle of Worcester, Cromwell granted the Lordship of Hawarden to Sir John Glynne and the Lordship of Hope to Sir John Trevor, both of whom favoured the Commonwealth. After the Restoration and a long struggle the Stanleys regained the Lordship of Hope and held lands in the Parish and in Higher Kinnerton Township until the mid-19th century at least.

4.10 In the pre-amble to the 1791 Parliamentary Inclosure Award, there was great dispute between land owned by the Stanleys and land owned by the Grosvenors in the Lordship of . The dispute included the un-established boundary across the un-drained Dodleston Moor. Eventually it was agreed to divide the moor by a ditch, which still exists today as the boundary between England and Wales (Evans 1984, 171).

4.11 Although historically within the Welsh Parish of Hope, for ecclesiastical purposes Higher Kinnerton later became a chapelry of the Parish of Dodleston in Cheshire. The ‘sister’ village of is across the border in Cheshire.

Evidence of settlement

4.12 The remains of a medieval Motte and Bailey castle survive at Dodleston 1.6km to the east and there is a similarly distanced moated site at Dodleston Hall. However there is no firm evidence of settlement prior to the post-medieval period in close proximity to the application site. The presence of ridge and furrow ploughing, generally attributed to the medieval period, was first noted on aerial photography c.1980 approximately 80m northeast of the application site. However a site visit later confirmed the feature as post-medieval (PRN 87886).

4.13 Speed’s map of 1610 below records ‘Kinnerton’ and William Smith’s cartographic record overleaf appears to record Higher Kinnerton as ‘Kinarton’, rather than Cheshire’s Lower Kinnerton, suggesting Higher is the older of the two settlements in the 17th century.

Fig. 3:

Speed’s Plan of 1610 CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 11

Fig. 4: Smith’s map of 1680 recording ‘Kinarton’

Crompton Hall & Kinnerton Lodge Estates

4.14 The most tangible evidence of settlement in the landscape surrounding the site is Crompton Hall, a Grade II Listed Farmhouse (PRN 17856) located south of the south boundary of the application site. The Hall is of c.1800 date with internal features dating from the early to mid-17th century period, which suggest a rebuilding of possibly the earliest dwelling in the settlement. The house is believed to have been built by William Crompton, a London merchant and later Clerk to the City of Chester in the 17th century, as an escape from the disease of the City. Although there are several records of Crompton holding land in the 17th century deposited at Cheshire Archives, no direct evidence for Crompton Hall has been found during this research. By his will dated 1709, Crompton left a sizeable bequest of land at Higher Kinnerton to be shared equally between the Parish of Dodleston and the Church of St. Peter at the Cross in Chester. The Church at this time was part of the estate of the Earls of Derby.

4.15 Crompton Hall is believed to have remained the main residence in this area until c.1800 when Kinnerton Lodge, the Grade II listed country residence (PRN 41330), was built to the north. Crompton Hall may then have become the Home Farm. By 1830 Kinnerton Lodge was part of the estate of Thomas Topham, of Liverpool, who reputedly founded Aintree Racecourse.

4.16 The 1842 Tithe map for the Township of Higher Kinnerton (Fig. 5 overleaf) records the application site comprising two large fields, Apportionments 852 ‘House Field’ and 855 ‘Lawn’. Both Kinnerton Lodge (858) to the west and Crompton Hall Farm (849) to the southwest are part of the estate of the late William Richards in 1842, leased to Thomas Jones. The Lodge is recorded as Apportionment 857, the ‘House and Pleasure Ground’. To the west, ‘Buildings, Yard and Garden’ are recorded as Apportionment 858 with a garden ‘859’ to the west and an Orchard ‘861’ to the southwest. The ‘Buildings, Yard and Garden’ include the present Grade II Listed Stables (PRN 41332). A small ‘plantation’ (860) crosses the boundary between the Orchard and the Lawn and a second (848) separates the farm at Crompton Hall (849) from the new Lodge, located south of the south boundary of the application site.

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4.17 The grassy track (Apportionment 853) is recorded as a road, once known as Stile Road, an old route leading south to Slaters Lane and Leicester Lane. The re-aligned track forms the boundary between Phase 1 and Phase 2 developments.

area of 2016 site investigations

Fig. 5: 1842 Tithe map

4.18 In 1855 the Lodge and Compton Hall Estate were purchased by James Collinge JP, a Lancashire cotton manufacturer and one-time Mayor of Oldham, as a modern gentleman’s residence with stabling, coach houses and outbuildings, walled and other gardens. Following the acquisition, Collinge undertook further remodelling to the house, together with the creation of a private lake, planting of specimen trees and landscaping the gardens and grounds. What survives of Collinge’s landscaped garden is recorded as NPRN 266242 on the National Monuments database (Coflein). Collinge died in 1870 and the estate was inherited by his son James (2) and a third James Collinge born in 1874. It remained in Collinge family ownership for 150 years (Castell 2000).

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area of 2016 site investigations

Fig. 5: 1871 OS 25in map

Late 19th century map evidence

4.19 The 1871 first edition map above records the application site comprising one large field following the removal of the 1842 division. The occasional trees, the small copse in the northwest corner and the two triangular clumps of trees along the east boundary hint at estate parkland. The parkland and three Summerhouses (SH) on the north side are screened from Kinnerton Lane by a band of broadleaf trees.

4.20 The undated Topham estate map overleaf appears to date from the late 19th to early 20th century period, although Topham had sold the estate to Collinge in 1855 (FRO D/DM/153/1). The estate is based on the 1911 OS map and although the planting has diminished and field boundaries have been introduced since 1871, there is little other change.

4.21 The 1914 6” OS map (Fig. 8 following) records the application site as part of the landscaped fields associated with Kinnerton Lodge, which include the area of Phase 1 development and Crompton Hall Farms. The shaded depiction on this edition map usually implies that this is all still estate land.

4.22 Other than the removal of some trees and upgrading of boundaries, cartographic evidence shows that there has been little change within the Phase 2 application site over a period of more than 180 years.

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Fig. 6: Topham estate map

Fig. 7: 1911 OS 25in map CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 15

Phase 1 Phase 2

Fig. 8: 1914 OS 6in map

5. CONCLUSIONS

5.1 The desk-based assessment has shown that the site forms part of the rural agricultural landscape that surrounds the small settlement at Higher Kinnerton, which has remained relatively undeveloped from the time of Post-medieval enclosure until the 20th century.

5.2 The application site was part of the Crompton Hall estate and later Kinnerton Lodge estate and the large open former grazing land that forms the site was part of the landscaped parkland created when the Lodge and Compton Hall Estate were purchased by James Collinge, JP, in 1855.

5.3 The only evidence of Collinge’s gentleman’s estate on the site today is a few isolated trees. The site visit has confirmed that the current land-use comprises relatively flat former grazing land, currently unused.

5.4 Documentary, cartographic and aerial surveys have given no indication of potential archaeology on the site and the site visit has confirmed there is no above-ground evidence of or the potential for any archaeological features.

5.5 The nearby Listed buildings, and what remains of the parkland surrounding Kinnerton Lodge, have been taken into consideration as part of the planning process. The Phase 2 development will maintain the treelined CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 16 boundary with Kinnerton Lodge and the isolated mature trees, while undertaking new planting. The open spaces and two ponds will be created, in the spirit of the historic parkland.

5.6 Based on available evidence, this assessment concludes that the development on this site will have no impact on the archaeological resource. In addition, the landscaping programme will alleviate any potential impact on the two nearby listed buildings.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Castlering Archaeology would like to thank Elan Homes for contracting the assessment. Thanks are also due to the staff at the following repositories: Flintshire Record Office, Hawarden; Cheshire Archives and Chester Library.

7. REFERENCES

Bibliography

Castell, Chris, 2000, The Journal of Kinnerton Village Life. Volume 1: Village History and Guided Walk. HKCC

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014a, Code of conduct. Reading: CIfA

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014b, Standard and Guidance for historic environment desk-based assessment. Reading: CIfA

Evans, D. G., 1984, The Hope Enclosure Act of 1791, Flintshire Historical Society Journal, Vol. 31, 161-186, On-line: http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk

Frost, P., 2016, Land off Kinnerton Lane, Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, Archaeological Assessment. Castlering Archaeology Report No. 537

Frost, P., 2017, Land south of Kinnerton Lane, Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, Archaeological Investigations. Castlering Archaeology Report No. 595

Nuttall, Derek, 1994, Dodleston: The History of a Marcher Parish.

Pritchard, T. W., 2002, A History of the Old Parish of Hawarden. Bridge Books

Rudeforth et al, 1984, Soils and their Use in Wales, Soil Survey of England and Wales, Bulletin No. 11. Harpenden.

Welsh Office, 2018, Planning Policy Wales: Chapter 6 Conserving the Historic Environment. Edition 10, 123- 129 (Online:https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-12/planning-policy-wales-edition-10.pdf)

Welsh Office, 2017, Planning Policy Wales Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment (https://gov.wales/topics/planning/policy/tans/tan-24/historic-environment)

CASTLERING ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 702, 17

Cartographic Sources

1610 Map of Flintshire by John Speed (FRO)

1680 Map of Cheshire by William Smith (CA PM 1/13)

1842 Tithe map & Apportionment for the Township of Higher Kinnerton, Parish of Dodleston (FRO NT/M/47a)

1871 OS first edition 6” map, Flintshire sheet 14, surveyed in 1869

1871, 1899 & 1911 OS 25” maps, Flintshire sheets 14.15 & 15.16

1914 OS 6” map, Flintshire sheet 14

1999 BGS, 1: 50, 000 map, Sheet 108 Flintshire

Cheshire Archives

CA 465/101 Lease for 99 years from William Crompton of Higher Kinnerton, gent. to John Piers of the same place, yeoman of the messuage which John Piers now occupies. Endorsement: agreement concerning William Crompton's right of way through the property leased 19 May 1679

Flintshire Record Office

D/DM/153/1 Undated Map of an Estate in Higher Kinnerton... in the County of Flint, belonging to Thomas Topham Esq. Scale: 26 ½”:1 mile. Includes lithograph of Kinnerton Lodge by Evans & Gresty, Chester

D-DM/760/43/1 1982 Sale Particulars of Crompton Hall, Higher Kinnerton

Websites http://www.coflein.gov.uk http://www.cpat.org.uk http://www.google-earth.com http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk http://www.higherkinnerton.org.uk http://www.flintshire.gov.uk

NPRN 266242 Site of Country House Garden Period Post Medieval Site Description: This garden is depicted on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map of Flintshire XIV, sheet 15 (1899). Its main elements on that map include parkland, boathouse, flagstaff, pinery, orchard, possible formal garden, carriage drive and ponds. C.H. Nicholas, RCAHMW, 17th August 2006.

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APPENDIX 1 SITES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST REFERRED TO IN THE T EXT

HER Site Name NGR Short Description PRN No. 103845 Post-Medieval SJ A group of former smithy buildings recorded on the 1871 OS map. Blacksmiths 3287 Surviving below ground remains recorded during archaeological workshop 6174 investigations in 2017 by Castlering Archaeology. 87886 Post-Medieval SJ Ridge and furrow recorded from aerial photography; disturbed by Ridge and furrow 33242 private homes and gardens. 61707 17856 Crompton Hall SJ Grade II listed farmhouse of c.1800 with internal features dating Farmhouse 32751 early to mid-17th century. Staircase is early to mid-17th century 61457 with a carved balustrade, newels and string. Contains possibly earlier moulded bressumer to ground storey hearth. 41330 Kinnerton Lodge SJ Grade II listed early 19th century house believed to have been built 32612 for the Topham family of Liverpool. Subsequently acquired by the 61756 Collinge family who, under James Collinge, undertook some minor remodelling in the late 19th century on this and other estate properties. 41332 Kinnerton Lodge SJ Grade II listed 19th century stables, located to the rear of Kinnerton Stables 32575 Lodge. 61732 101348 Kinnerton Lodge SJ Undated anon air photo showings an earthwork; interpreted as cropmark 324616 possible prehistoric enclosure. No trace of it on the ground when visited in 1980 and the1975 OS record card suggests it represents probably old field boundaries spread by ploughing.