THE SWINE GROUND AND SLOPES GARDEN, ,

Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation

Matrix Archaeology

December 2016 THE SWINE GROUND AND SLOPES GARDEN, LYME PARK, CHESHIRE

Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation

Report No. 2016-12 (Project Code: MA646)

Client: The National Trust

 Matrix Archaeology Ltd, 36 Highfield Road, Stretford, M32 8NQ [email protected]

December 2016 REPORT CONTENTS

Summary

1. Introduction

2. Scope and methodology

3. Site location

4. Site development

5. Gazetteer

6. Feeder Canal Recording

7. Rough Cascade Recording

8. Trial Trenching Results

7. Site interpretation

8. Recommendations

Sources and Bibliography

Figures

Figure 1: Site location map, from O.S. 1:25,000 sheet.

Figure 2: Archaeological Assessment and Trial Trenching Plan.

Figure 3: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on early 18th-century plan of proposed landscaping at Lyme Park (copy at LP, reproduced from OAN 2006).

Figure 4: Plan of the Swine Ground by Lewis Wyatt, c 1813-17 (copy, LP).

Figure 5: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on the Plan of Lyme Park by Thomas Pollitt 1824 (GMCRO).

Figure 6: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on the tithe map for c 1850 (Cheshire Archives and Local Studies). Figure 7: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on OS 1:2500 Cheshire sheet XXIX.2, surveyed 1871.

Figure 8: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on OS 1:2500 Second Edition 1897, revised 1896.

Figure 9: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on OS 1:2500 Cheshire sheet XXIX.2 Edition of 1909, revised 1907.

Figure 10: The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden on OS 1:2500 SJ 9682-9782, revised 1971, published 1972.

Figure 11: Lyme Hall on a fragment of an equestrian painting, late 17th century (National Trust).

Figure 12: Lyme Hall from the north, c 1700 (National Trust).

Figure 13: Lyme Hall from the north, c 1700 (National Trust, Stamford Estate Office, R/21/44 Paddock Cottage).

Figure 14: ‘Lyme Hall in Cheshire, the Seat of Peter Legh Esqr’, by Charles Nattes, published in W Watts The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, 1786.

Figure 15: ‘View of Lime Hall’, published in J Aikin A Description of the Country from Thirty to Forty Miles Round Manchester, 1795.

Figure 16: View of the south front of Lyme Hall, oil on panel, nd (LP).

Figure 17: View of Lyme Hall from the south-west, nd (LP, photo folder Dutch Garden).

Figure 18: ‘Lyme Hall. The seat of Thomas Legh Esqr’, by P C Auld, published in E Twycross The Mansions of and Wales, 1850 (LP).

Figure 19: Watercolour of the Swine Ground and Lyme Hall from the west, nd (LP).

Figure 20: Gamekeeper John Barker and his family, 1860s (LP PAL 02).

Figure 21: Water colour by Augustus Hare (1834-1903) (copy, LP).

Figure 22: West front and pond, nd (LP CRO 004).

Figure 23: Approach from the west, c 1900 (LP).

Figure 24: Dutch Garden and stream, nd (LP FA1-025).

Figure 25: Dutch Garden and stream, nd (LP PCD 014).

Figure 26: Culverting the stream, looking east to the Dutch Garden (LP POR111).

Figure 27: Culverting the stream, looking east (LP POR112). Figure 28: Culverting the stream, looking north-west (LP POR110).

Figure 29: Culverting the stream, looking south-east (LP POR114).

Figure 30: Site of the infilled pond (LP SMI 001).

Figure 31: Restoration of the cascade, c 1980s (LP XDO 303).

Figure 32: Restoration of the cascade, c 1980s (LP CHR 410).

Figure 33: The Swine Ground on ‘Lyme Park Block Plan of Area Surrounding Hall’, County Borough Parks Dept, 12 May 1947 (LP).

Figure 34: Proposed alterations to car park on plan of ‘Lyme Park - Approach to the Hall’, September 1976 with alterations in 1977 (LP).

Figure 35: Trenches A and B; plans and sections.

Figure 36: Trenches C and D; plans and sections.

Figure 37: Rough Cascade; detail plans and sections.

Figure 38: South-facing section on feeder canal, Rough Cascade and culvert.

Figure 39: Possible reconstruction of DBA Feature 5, viewed from south-west, during early nineteenth century (by Peter Middleton).

Figure 40: Possible reconstruction of DBA Feature 5, viewed from south-west, during late nineteenth century (by Peter Middleton).

Figure 41: Dutch Garden and semi-circular pond (Stockport Corporation 1952).

Figure 42a & 42b: Dutch Garden and semi-circular pond on postcard, nd.

Plates

Plate 1: Swine Ground viewed from Lyme Hall, showing Dutch Garden in foreground, looking westwards.

Plate 2: Feature 2, viewed from west, looking towards cascade (Feature 1), which is just visible in centre.

Plate 3: Western part of cascade (Feature 1), viewed from south-west.

Plate 4: Eastern end of cascade, where it meets the South Pond, viewed from west. Pump House visible top left.

Plate 5: Eastern section of cascade, viewed from west. Plate 6: Waterfall at eastern end of cascade (Feature 1b), showing sluice outlet a base, viewed from west.

Plate 7: Hole excavated at west end of canal (Feature 1a), viewed from south-west.

Plate 8: Infilled opening in drystone revetment wall (Feature 6), viewed from west.

Plate 9: Feature 6, viewed from north-west.

Plate 10: Feature 6, viewed from south-west.

Plate 11: Bridge 10, now culvert outfall from channel from Dutch Garden (Feature 7), viewed from north. Note vertical timber stakes in foreground.

Plate 12: Remains of possible timber dam (Feature 11), viewed from south.

Plate 13. Trench A, viewed from south-west.

Plate 14. Trench A, fully excavated, viewed from north.

Plate 15. Trench A, north part, viewed from west.

Plate 16. Trench A, stone blocks (05) above culvert (07), viewed from west.

Plate 17. Trench A, culvert (07), viewed from west.

Plate 18. Trench A, looking up culvert (07), from west.

Plate 19. Trench A, looking down culvert (07), from east.

Plate 20. Trench B, viewed from west.

Plate 21. Trench B, fully excavated, viewed from north.

Plate 22. Trench B, north part, viewed from west.

Plate 23. Trench B, culvert (05), viewed from west.

Plate 24. Trench B, wall remains (07), viewed from west.

Plate 25. Trench B, culvert (05), viewed from west.

Plate 26. Trench B, view looking up partially-blocked culvert (05), viewed from west.

Plate 27. Trench B, view looking down (now dry) culvert (05), viewed from east.

Plate 28. Trench C, viewed from north.

Plate 29. Trench C, fully excavated, viewed from south.

Plate 30. Trench C, flagstone surface (08) within central sondage, viewed from west. Plate 31. Trench C, pond wall remains (09), viewed from west.

Plate 32. Trench D, general view, from south-east.

Plate 33. Trench D, fully excavated, viewed from south.

Plate 34. Trench D, fully excavated, viewed from north.

Plate 35. Trench D, north part, viewed from east.

Plate 36. Trench D, south part, viewed from east.

Plate 37. Trench D, south extension, fully excavated, from north.

Plate 38. Trench D, south extension, viewed from east.

Plate 39. Temporary dam at east end of feeder canal.

Plate 40. De-watering west end of feeder canal.

Plate 41. Box culvert and removable plug at west end of feeder canal, viewed vertically from masonry dam.

Plate 42. West end of feeder canal, viewed from south.

Plate 43. Culvert beneath masonry dam, viewed from east end of Rough Cascade.

Plate 44. Rough Cascade, viewed from west.

Plate 45. Rough Cascade, extreme west part, viewed from south.

Plate 46. Rough Cascade, west part, viewed from south.

Plate 47. Rough Cascade, central part, viewed from south.

Plate 48. Rough Cascade, east part, viewed from south.

Plate 49. Rough Cascade, extreme east part, viewed from south.

Plate 50. Rough Cascade, slot and recess at east end of south wall, viewed from north.

Plate 51. Rough Cascade, south wall, centre part, viewed from north.

Plate 52. Rough Cascade, rebuilt south wall, west part, viewed from north-west.

Plate 53. Top of dam, viewed from south.

Plate 54. Feeder canal, extreme west part, viewed from south.

Plate 55. Feeder canal, viewed from south-west.

Plate 56. Feeder canal, viewed from south-east. Plate 57. Feeder canal, extreme east part, viewed from south, showing temporary dam to right, and cast-iron intake pipe for pump house, to lower left. SUMMARY An archaeological desk-based assessment was undertaken at the Swine Ground and Slopes Garden, in Lyme Park, Cheshire. This small plot of land, presently in use as a car park, formed a natural amphitheatre, and was previously crossed by two small streams. There were also late post-medieval artificial water features located to the east, within the Slopes Garden. Subsequent to the desk based assessment, archaeological recording was undertaken on the Rough Cascade and feeder canal, and four trial trenches were excavated to investigate the culvert from the Rough Cascade; a semi-circular pond, and the site of a large circular pond. 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 An archaeological desk-based assessment (DBA) was undertaken by Matrix Archaeology at the Swine Ground and Slopes Garden, in Lyme Park, Cheshire, during June- July 2015 (Figure 1). This was commissioned by Jamie Lund, Archaeologist (North West) for the client, the National Trust. The work was undertaken to inform possible landscaping works here.

1.2 No previous archaeological recording had been undertaken at the site, although in 2013 Matrix Archaeology conducted a desk-based assessment and building recording at the Timberyard, located immediately to the north-west of the Swine Ground (Matrix Archaeology, 2013). Some information from that project was used for this report (Gazetteer entries 10 and 11).

1.3 Subsequently, during August 2015, a watching brief and recording were undertaken in connection with temporary works related to a sudden loss of water from the Rough Cascade within the Slopes Garden.

1.4 Between 20 and 28 September 2016, a trial trenching evaluation was undertaken within the Swine Ground and Slopes Garden, to evaluate features identified by the DBA.

1.5 In October 2016, further recording was undertaken, comprising a drawn elevation along the length of the feeder canal and the Rough Cascade, also projecting the culvert below the cascade from the results of two of the evaluation trenches.

1.6 Following completion of onsite works, the DBA was revised in the light of newly- revealed evidence.

1.3 All of the works were undertaken in accordance with a Brief, supplied by the client.

Acknowledgements Dr Peter Arrowsmith undertook the historical research (Section 4) and map regression exercise and historical images (Figures 3 – 34; 41 - 42). The watching brief, trial trenching evaluation, and further recording were undertaken by Peter Middleton, Steven Price, and Mark Fletcher. The works were commissioned by Jamie Lund. Site access was facilitated by Lyme Park staff. Simon Gulliver and Caroline Schofield of the National Trust contributed by email to discussion regarding historic water features. 2.0 DBA SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

2.1 All existing cartographic and pictorial sources were obtained which related to the study area, as well as historical information which related to these. This enabled compilation of Section 4, regarding previous use of, and features within, this area.

2.2 A site walkover was undertaken, to inform production of Figure 2, a gazetteer of features, and photography of potential features (Plates 1 – 12).

2.3 Sources consulted have included the unpublished studies and surveys of Lyme Park by Elizabeth Banks (1993), OAN (2006), ArcHeritage (2013) and Cookson & Tickner (2013 & 2015),1 and material held at Lyme Park and at the National Trust Stamford Estate Office, Altrincham.

2.4 For assistance at Lyme Park, thanks are due to Amy Carney, House and Collections Manager, Lyme Park, and Jamie Lund, Archaeologist, the National Trust.

1 See bibliography for details. 3.0 SITE LOCATION

3.1 The Swine Ground and Slopes Garden were located in the heart of Lyme Park, almost immediately to the west and south-west of Lyme Hall, and 10km south-east of Stockport, in District, Cheshire. Lyme Park occupies the western edge of the Pennines, and the land rises within the south and west parts of the Park to over 350m OD. Much of the park is drained into the Norbury Brook, which extends northwards towards High Lane, and the Swine Ground was located in the valley of this stream, at a height of about 230m AOD (OSNGR SJ 96300 82300). The study area (1.97 hectares in total) also included the Slopes Garden, which extended between the South Pond and the Swine Ground. At the time of the assessment, the Swine Ground was in use as a car park. 4.0 SITE DEVELOPMENT

Historically the Swine Ground was known as the ‘Swine Park’, a term presumably referring to an enclosed area used for the keeping of pigs. The earliest known mention occurs in a survey of Lyme Park in 1686 which lists the Swine Park as comprising 14a 13r 38p.2 In 1760, however, the Swine Park was reported to be only 1a 3r 38p in extent. 3 Both measurements are probably in the Cheshire measure, in which 1 acre was equivalent to approximately 2.12 statute acres. In the Lyme Handley tithe award of c 1850 the Swine Park was listed as pasture occupying 5a 0r 6p statute areas. The tithe map show that this plot (Figure 6, plot no 21) principally comprised an open area bounded on the south by the Little Rookery wood, on the west by the present roadway alongside the Rookery, and on the east by the boundary wall of the gardens (plot no 2) below the high terrace wall of the west side of the hall. On the north- east it also included a strip of land leading up the slope towards the north front of the hall, which until 2016 containing the steps providing access to the hall from the car park and now provides graded access. The various measurements given for the Swine Park imply that its area was greatly reduced between 1686 and 1760. By this later date, however, its extent was fairly similar to that shown on the c 1850 tithe award. The area to the west of the hall appears on two paintings of c 1700 and on a fragment of an equestrian painting of the late 17th century painting but these provide only limited detail of the Swine Ground (Figures 11-13).

Until the mid 19th century the main access into the park was through the west gate, so that visitors approached the hall via the Swine Ground.4 From this direction the hall appears in an elevated position (Figure 23). The course of the approach road rounded the south end of the Rookery wood, swung around the west and north sides of the Swine Ground, and continued to the north forecourt of the hall. Until the early 19th century, to the north-west corner of the forecourt, a branch led from the south side of this road through what is now the Vicary Gibbs garden and climbed to a court on the spur of land on the west side of the hall, now the site of the prow-like terrace known as the Bull Pen (Figure 4).5 To the west of the Swine Ground the original line of the approach road ran over high ground to the north of the present drive, which mapping shows to have been laid out between 1824 and c 1850 (Figures 5 & 6).6

The earliest known cartographic evidence for the Swine Ground is provided by an undated plan, believed to be a landscape design roughly contemporary with the remodelling of the hall by Leoni in the 1720s-1730s (Figure 3). The original plan is stated to be held by the John Rylands Library but consultation of the collection has been unable to trace this. The plan is interpreted as showing a large circular pond or bason within the Swine Ground.7 Elizabeth Banks writes of this feature, ‘The bason could have been excavated to a shallow depth and shaped to form a large circle. It did not require to be lined, or hard-edged, as there was sufficient water flowing into the reservoir to keep it full most of the year. The bason would have required constant maintenance as it would have been very susceptible to the accumulation of silt and sediment washed down from the Park Moor’.8 The proposals shown on the plan included a new route for the west approach road which, after sweeping around the

2 JRL Legh of Lyme Box Q, A Survey of Lyme and Handley Belonging to Richard Legh of Lyme1686, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 94. 3 GMCRO E17/5/ Mensuration of Lyme Park 1760, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 83. 4 Banks 1993, 2.6-7, 2.17, 5.109. 5 Banks 1993, 5.115. 6 Banks 1993, 6.77. 7 Banks 1993, 5.112. 8 Ibid. north side of the bason, is shown continuing up the slope to the court on the site of the Bull Pen.

There appears to be no historical evidence which conclusively shows that this bason was actually constructed. In 1734, during the rebuilding works by Leoni, the mason Peter Platt was paid for work which included ‘Baroing Getting & working stone used in the pedestal on the Island upon the Great Pond’.9 However, the reference might well be to the South Pond. This may have been first created in the time of Sir Peter Legh IX, as in 1609 there is mention of ‘Quicksetts for the new poole’, along with ‘a new boat-house and pigeon-house’ and ‘arbours in the garden’.10 The South Pond is believed to be mentioned in a letter of the 1670s, in which Sir John Chicheley wrote to Richard Legh ‘The alteration yo intend about yr Pond must needs be pleasant and of some use for diversion wch now is none; yo must take Care yr Statue be proportonable to ye Bignesse of Yr Pond, otherwise twill show not well’.11 The South Pond is visible to the rear of the hall on the fragment of a late 17th-century equestrian painting (Figure 11).

The bason, if constructed, would have been a noteworthy feature of the park, particularly since it would have been a major element of the view of the hall as the visitor approached along the west drive. However, it is conspicuous by its absence in the description of Lyme Park written in c 1750 by Dr Richard Pococke who remarked that ‘The house is situated on a plain spot a little above the vale…Behind the house is a large piece of black water with wood behind it, and to the west is a hanging garden, now neglected, which goes down to the vale’.12 The ‘hanging garden’ must have been situated on the slopes below the west side of the hall, with the ‘large piece of black water’ being the South Pond. The ‘vale’ can be identified as the Swine Ground. Similarly, William Marriott in the Antiquities of Lyme, published in 1810, wrote of ‘the bold, and finely sloping brow [the site of the hall]...overlooking the level at its foot, called the Swine park’, with no mention of the bason.13

In August 1769 Sampson Brelsford was paid £14 6s 5d for ‘Walling Swine Park out’,14 but this is probably a reference to the building of a wall or walls along the boundary of the Swine Park with other parts of the park or gardens.

By contrast, there are a number of early references to a cascade at Lyme Park. It may be first recorded in the diary of Henry Prescott, the deputy registrar of the diocese of , who visited the hall on several occasions in the 1700s. In May 1704 he came to Lyme Park from with Mr Legh, ‘thro a fine prospect…thoro the walks & over the Cascade’. In June 1705 Prescott was among the bishop’s party when this called at Lyme Park; he recorded that ‘The Cascade is shewn in its variety to the Bishop and company. The House to those who had curiosity’. In October 1705 after an overnight stay at the hall, Prescott wrote ‘Rise indispos’d about 10, take a walk about the Cascade with Mr. Legh’.15 It is evident from these entries that the cascade was a key feature of the garden, to be shown with pride with visitors. The reference to the cascade being ‘shewn in its variety’ suggests that there was a means of altering the flow of water.

9 SLHL B/JJ/6 Lyme Hall Steward’s Overseer’s Accounts, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 71. 10 Banks 1993, 2.3; OAN 2006 vol 2, 44. 11 Rothwell 2012, 40; Banks 1993, 5.9. 12 R Pococke Travels through England during 1750, 1751, and later Years, vol 1, 211, cited by OAN 2006, vol 2, 51. 13 Marriott 1810, 236, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 55. 14 SLHL B/JJ/6 Lyme Hall Steward’s Overseer’s Accounts, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 77. 15 Addy 1987, 8-9, 55, 74. The cascade underwent some modification during the building works by Leoni, for in July 1738 a payment of £29 7s 4s to Peter Platt included ‘Stone used on the Bottom of the new Cascade’.16 An illustration by Charles Nattes in 1769 shows a sluice at the west end of the South Pond, presumably regulating the cascade’s supply of water (Figure 14). John Byng, later the 5th Viscount Torrington, visited Lyme Park in 1792 and described the hall as having ‘surrounding parterres, and a drizzling cascade’.17 Marriott in 1810 wrote of the valley on the south side of the hall as ‘now blocked up by the formation of the cascade and pool [ie the South Pond]’.18

A view of Lyme Hall published in 1795 shows the cascade on the south side of the area now occupied by the Dutch Garden, with a series of striking water jets rising over the cascade (Figure 15). On the north and west sides of this area the ground sloped up to stone walls, that of the north serving as a revetment to the promontory later occupied by the Bull Pen; in the centre a fountain is shown, while to the west a sloping line of pointed timbers may possibly indicate the point of outflow.

In 1813-17 the architect Lewis Wyatt was commissioned by Thomas Legh to make various alterations to the hall and gardens. A plan by Wyatt shows the Swine Ground and garden area on the west side of the hall (Figure 4). The area of the Dutch Garden is named as ‘old garden’ and the ‘rough cascade’ is marked to the south of this. From the western side of the ‘old garden’ a curving watercourse, described as ‘water course from the cascade’, is shown running across the Swine Ground and under the west drive (named ‘Macclesfield Road’). The course of this watercourse is similar to that shown on later mapping (see below). The west drive as shown on Wyatt’s plan, where it curves around the west and north sides of the Swine Ground, follows the same course as the present road. This course is also indicated on later mapping, from 1824 onwards (Figures 5-10)

It is uncertain as to how much on Wyatt’s plan is as proposed rather than as existing. The line of the cascade itself seems to continue to the south-west of the ‘old garden’ and to curve towards the ‘water course from the cascade’ (shown as feature 3 on Figure 2); there is also the suggestion of such a continuation of the cascade on the 1795 illustration. Steps are indicated on the plan in the south-west corner of the ‘old garden’. A smaller stream, described simply as ‘a water course’, is shown flowing from the south-west to join the ‘water course from the cascade’ at roughly its midpoint within the Swine Ground. Below the Bull Pen promontory, a semi-circular projection is depicted, described as ‘slope fronting the house’. It is crossed by a ‘gravel path’ shown running from the west across the Swine Ground.

The present substantial revetment walls to the west of the hall, including the Bull Pen, were probably the work of Wyatt.19 They are shown on the 1824 plan of Lyme Park by Pollitt (Figure 5). This plan shows the centre of the present Dutch Garden occupied by a rectangular pond, aligned roughly south-east. At its western end was a small, semi-circular area of water from which a watercourse flowed, as on Wyatt’s plan, across the Swine Ground and under the west drive, to feed into the south-east corner of the mill pond.

16 SLHL B/JJ/6 Lyme Hall Steward’s Overseer’s Accounts, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 74. 17 OAN 2006 vol 2, 54. 18 Marriott 1810, 236, cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 55. 19 OAN 2006, vol 1, 159. In 1824 a description of Lyme Park was published in the Views of the Seats by J P Neale. This noted that ‘The West side has also been restored by the present proprietor. On this Front is a Terrace, forming a lawn, with a pedestal and vase in its centre. In the Grounds below, a fountain is constantly playing, and the gentle murmur of a waterfall is heard rushing from the woods in the Swine Park’.20 The fountain must have been in the area now occupied by the Dutch Garden, while the waterfall can be identified as the cascade.

The tithe map of c 1850 shows a boundary line between the Swine Ground and the gardens below the west terrace wall (Figure 6). The small semi-circular pond was still extant and now lay immediately to the west of that boundary. To the east of the wall, in place of the rectangular pond of the 1824 plan, a smaller possibly oval pond is shown within the centre of the area of the present Dutch Garden.

Annotation which has been added to the 1824 plan shows a circular pond in place of the rectangular one (Figure 5). The annotation also includes the boundary line separating the Swine Ground from the gardens, which is not shown on the original map. On an undated illustration that boundary seems to be shown as a fence positioned on a low wall or bank (Figure 17). An undated painting, in a naïve style, shows the gardens separated by a more substantial wall from the Swine Ground where deer are grazing (Figure 16). In the area of the present Dutch Garden this painting shows a fountain, rising from a circular pond. A fountain is also indicated here on a distant view across the Swine Ground published in 1850, although here any boundary wall to the garden is indistinct (Figure 18). Both the boundary wall and the fountain appear on later paintings (Figures 19 & 21), while the wall is visible in a photograph taken in the Swine Ground in the 1860s showing the gamekeeper John Barker and his family (Figure 20). The parterre which was later named the Dutch Garden was laid out by the 1st Lord Newton, following his succession in 1857.21 It is shown, with a cruciform central pond, on OS mapping of 1871 (Figure 7).

The semi-circular pond on the west side of the boundary wall of the Dutch Garden appears on OS mapping from 1871 onwards and is depicted with an inner semi-circular feature within the bason (Figures 7-10). The pond also appears on an early undated photograph (Figure 22). Figure 40 shows two initial possible reconstructions of the inner feature, one as a basin and the other as a 'mini cascade' carefully constructed with large boulders and rough-hewn stone. The photographic evidence confirms the ‘mini-cascade’ to be correct (Figure 41). In the reconstruction the water is shown entering through a pipe above the lintel of a (now blocked) large opening (DBA feature 6). A postcard of about the 1960s shows the pond surrounded by chestnut paling, but with the lintel, pipe and flow of water visible (Figure 42).

Photographs show the stream which issued from the semi-circular pond flowing in a deepish narrow channel (Figures 24-29).

During the Second World War a Nissen hut was erected in the northern part of the Swine Ground. It is shown as still standing on aerial photographs of April 194622 but had been taken down by May 1947 (Figure 33). The concrete base of the hut was still extant in 1977 (Figure 34).

20 Cited by OAN 2006 vol 2, 56. 21 Rothwell 2012, 40. 22 LP HMSO 001 & 003. In about the 1960s the steam was culverted within a pipe laid in the same channel (Figures 26-29). The semi-circular pond is shown as still open on OS mapping of 1971 (Figure 10) but was later infilled (Figure 30). Aerial photographs show this infilling to have occurred no later than 1976.23

In 1973 a length of the west terrace wall above the Dutch Garden collapsed. Waterson reports that as a result of an exceptionally heavy summer storm ‘the lake on the south side of the house overflowed; the terrace walls, already pushed past the vertical by the movement of the house’s foundations, could not support the added pressure and some twenty yards of walling collapsed, leaving the flood to sweep down into the parterre below’.24

When this walling was reinstated in the 1980s, repairs were also carried out to the stonework of the upper part of the Cascade (Figures 31 & 32).

23 LP AIR 003 & 004. 24 Waterson 1980, 129. 5. GAZETTEER FEATURES

5.1 Within and just outside the study area, a number of features of potential significance were identified. These are identified on plan by gazetteer numbers (Nos. 1 – 14, Figure 2).

5.2 Landscape Features Gazetteer

1 – Canal and cascade (Plates 3 - 7) This feature extended from the west end of the South Pond, for a distance of c.46m length, towards the Swine Ground. The easternmost 26m length comprised a feeder canal (feature 1a), lined with masonry, and fed from the South Pond. The remainder of this feature comprised a cascade (feature 1b), which extended downhill towards the west. During the 1980s, the masonry of the cascade was again partially rebuilt, it seems that slabs and blocks of rusticated stone were laid in courses above the earlier ashlar blocks (Figures 31 and 32). In May 2015, the base of the canal developed a significant leak, and caused the South Pond to lose much of its water.

2 – Backfilled section of cascade (Plate 2) Here, a broad linear hollow extends downhill from east to west, apparently extending the line of the cascade down to the Swine Ground. Aikin’s drawing of 1795 (Figure 15) shows the cascade as descending to the same level as the Dutch Garden, and including water jets which arc above the main cascade. Excavation of trial trenches A and B across this hollow revealed that the cascade had originally extended by perhaps 15 or 20m further downhill, before being shortened to its present length, when the culvert (feature 3) was extended uphill.

3 – Culvert From the lower end of the cascade, a culvert (feature 2) now extends down to the level of the existing car park, where it turns northwards. From here, the water flow must have drained off into water channel 7. A plan of circa 1813-17 by Lewis Wyatt and Aikin’s illustration of 1795 (Figures 4 & 15) suggest that it may have curved round to join feature 7, as shown in Figure 2, or it may have run northwards, following the existing east wall of the Swine Ground, to meet pond feature 5.

4 – Rectangular pond A large rectangular pond was shown extending from east to west, within the Dutch Garden, on the 1824 plan (Figure 5). This feature was replaced by a smaller, circular or oval pond by c.1850, which was in turn replaced by the present cruciform pond when the Dutch Garden was created between 1857 and 1871.

5 – Semi-circular pond A small pond, with a semi-circular plan form, was first shown against the eastern edge of the Swine Ground, on the 1824 plan (Figure 5). This was still shown on the 1971 O.S. plan (Figure 10), but was infilled by 1976. Channel feature 7 flowed from this pond.

6 – Blocked opening in drystone wall (Plates 8, 9 & 10) The eastern edge of the Swine Ground is defined by a drystone revetment wall, which retains the higher ground of The Dutch Garden and the Bull Pen. Aligned with the east-west axis of the Dutch Garden is a 2m wide blocked opening in this wall. This probably functioned to connect pond feature 4, with pond feature 5, and can be seen in Figure 30, and Plates 8, 9 and 10.

7 – Culverted stream This feature appears to have originated as the stream which drained the Killtime valley to the south and south-east of the Hall, before the latter was partially infilled by the South Lawn and the South Pond. An existing manhole in the car park, where feature 7 intersects with pond 5, appears to represent access to the culvert. The stream was open across the Swine Ground, until the 1960s, when it was buried within a pipe (Figures 26 – 29).

8 – Circular bason An undated plan (Figure 3), believed to be from the early 18th century, shows a large circular water feature, occupying a large part of the Swine Ground. It is doubtful whether this was ever constructed. It is mentioned by no other sources, and a trial trench (Trench D) positioned over the projected arc of this feature found no evidence of its existence. However, there are features within the stream bed, just to the north of the study area (see features 10 & 11), which cannot be satisfactorily explained.

9 – Culverted stream This feature appears to be shown as an open ‘water course’ on Wyatt’s plan of circa 1813-17 (Figure 4), but is not indicated on subsequent plans, suggesting that it was probably culverted by then. The discharge point of this stream, into channel feature 7, can be seen as a masonry structure in Figure 29 (lower right). This outlet can also be seen just to the left of the central tree, in Figure 28, whilst the bridge (feature 10) can be just beyond the car in the same photograph. Stream 9 appears to flow down the minor valley which contained the old children’s playground, and originates at the Lyme Avenue Ponds, located circa 250m to the south of Lyme Hall.

10 – Bridge and weir in stream bed (Plate 11) “A masonry weir is located immediately to the north of the culvert, where the stream issues from beneath the car park. This is not indicated in any detail on any plans, but may be of 18th century date” (from Matrix Archaeology report 2013-07, Gazetteer No. 30). The existing brickwork bridge is shown behind the car in Figure 28, and also in Figures 4 and 5, and on subsequent plans. This bridge is probably of 18th century date, and now comprises the northern end of culvert feature 7.

11 – Timbers located in stream bed (Plate 12) “In the stream bed, about half way between the existing car park and the millpond, are a number of earthfast timbers. There are two pairs of these, which have an arrangement suggestive of a timber dam structure. Each pair comprises an upright, with a diagonal raker on the downstream side. There may also be planking laid across the stream course, but some limited excavation would be required to demonstrate the actual nature of the structure. It may also be of interest that there is a quantity of large sandstone rubble on the east bank of the stream, just downstream. Although this dam may be of late post-medieval date, it could also be much earlier. Upstream from here, a number of posts have been inserted into the stream bed, possibly to locate a brushwood bed here, to reduce erosion” (from Matrix Archaeology report 2013-07, Gazetteer Nos. 28 & 29). 12 – Demolished structure? A small rectangular structure was shown on the O.S. plan of 1871, just to the north of the existing western end of the cascade (feature 1b). It is possible that this was a housing for a sluice gate related to the cascade. It was not shown on any subsequent plans.

13 – Demolished Nissen Hut A large Nissen hut was located here, probably from World War 2, but was removed sometime between April 1946 and May 1947. The concrete base was still in place in 1977. Two similar, but smaller structures, were located in the Timberyard, further to the north.

14 – Stone wall foundation During the evaluation trenching works, contractors were employed to lay new footpaths in the area to the north-west of the Hall. At location 14, a short length of buried sandstone walling was seen. This extended from south-west to north-east, and was 0.6m in thickness. Until the late 19th century, the Stable Yard and Kennels were located in this area. 6. FEEDER CANAL RECORDING

6.1 In July 2015, a failure of the lining within the feeder canal (DBA Feature 1a) led to the sudden loss of water from the South Pond. A temporary dam of scaffold poles and a waterproof membrane had been constructed, allowing the pool to be refilled. This allowed access to the feeder canal, to facilitate recording.

6.2 A watching brief was undertaken on 8-19 August 2015. The loss of water had exposed some partially buried timbers at the base of the canal feeder, and it was these which were the focus of the recording. It was hoped the study of these features would give a better understanding of the development and operation of the water system. An excavator was used to remove the silt overburden with further hand cleaning of features of interest.

6.3 The canal feeder channel extended east-west for about 23.5m, and was 2.2m to 2.8m in width. The maximum depth was 2.7m, and the sidewalls appeared to be of dry stone construction with courses of roughly squared Pennine sandstone in evidence. A batter to these walls was particularly noticeable further to the west, after large amounts of organic silt had been removed by machine. The silt was up to 1.3m in depth and had obviously accumulated over a considerable period of time.

6.4 The base of the watercourse was almost certainly formed of puddled clay, which was probed for a further 0.3m depth, with no evidence for a solid floor to the structure. The clay probably extended up behind each of the sidewalls to act as stanks, to make the channel watertight. However, in probing of the soft silt at the extreme east end of the channel, a hard ‘surface’ was detected approximately 1.5m below the top of the deposit. Whether this represented a constructed base (flags or similar); or simply random fragments of stone lying on top of the impermeable clay, was not established.

6.5 A timber structure at the extreme east end of the channel was examined and recorded. The wooden elements were badly decayed but appeared to be the remains of a drop board sluice rather than a sluice with a rising gate. The latter type (whether hand or mechanically operated) would have regulated the amount of water passing under the gate which was more appropriate for an industrial setting rather than this particular system.

6.6 Drop boards slotted into the grooved vertical posts found to either side of the channel could have dictated an upper water level, above which water may ‘overtop’ in a controlled fashion i.e. to maintain the water level in the South Pond at a fixed height. A board added or removed at the right time may have allowed the capture of summer rain or the absorption of potentially damaging winter flood waters. The boards were probably also used to hold back the water in the pool, whilst the channel was being emptied for maintenance or flushed of silt. Clearly, this would have been essential had the pool been well stocked with fish.

6.7 Other elements of the structure included side planking, nailed to either post, with short horizontal rails above. The rails fitted into holes in the side walls and the ends (now decayed) were probably attached to the top of the posts. The whole construction was held against offsets in the side walls with two braces which were again fixed to the posts and slotted into purpose built recesses in the stonework. The remains of a post with an ornate end was also recovered from the silt. This may have been an element from the sluice but was more likely part of an earlier bridge over the channel at this location.

6.8 The stone spillway dam at the west end of the channel acted as a ‘broad-crested’ overflow weir with water cascading down or being thrown clear of the western face of the structure, depending upon the flow. The ashlar Pennine sandstone blocks used for this 2.43m high by 2.9m wide construction had been faced in various ways and were possibly reused masonry. A similar mix of dressed stone was seen in the side walls adjacent to the dam. Smooth finishes and rock-faced rustication were in evidence, along with channel and V-jointing. Chisel marks (simple tooling) was also noted on some of the blocks.

6.9 The west side of the spillway dam was close stepped in profile and curved in plan. The east face was vertical and the top (of Pennine stone flags) sloped up from east to west. The width of the channel decreased to 1.85m over the top of the weir, directing the flow towards the centre of the cascade. A groove near the west lip of the structure, corresponding with slots in the side walls, had clearly accommodated timber stop boards in the past. The upper sections of the side slots appear to have been lost to later rebuilding. However, a metal or wooden debris trap, capable of being raised or removed, was another possibility at this location.

6.10 The remains of one such debris trap recorded beside the eastern edge of the weir was an L-shaped construction of timber and wrought iron. The horizontal and vertical grates were of square-section (oak?) dowels held between rails that were bolted together with iron ties and braces. The west rail sat within a rebate in the east edge of the dam and the trap as a whole appeared to be wedged into the channel i.e. it was a fixed structure. However, the discovery of another slot in the southern wall, directly above the previously-described rebate and rail, allowed for the possibility of vertical movement. Replacement stonework had destroyed the top of this channel and removed any putative matching slot in the north wall.

6.11 The rebuilt section of the north wall also contained the feed pipe for the fountain situated in the Dutch Garden to the north. This was a gravity fed system and the 55mm bore pipe was of iron. The means of draining the feeder canal was found to the east of the dam below the mass of organic silt. This timber (pitch pine?) structure was somewhat decayed and was clearly the source of the leak which emptied the pool a few weeks earlier. It was basically a strong, open topped box with a wide flat rim to seat a removable plug or bung. With the plug lifted, water would enter the chamber before draining westwards through an attached box-culvert.

6.12 The culvert ran slightly downhill and passed through an aperture in the base of the spillway dam, allowing the water to flow directly onto the top of Rough Cascade. The square opening was original to the dam, and, interestingly, somewhat larger than the wooden culvert contained within it; the space above the box being infilled with smaller blocks of stone and a piece of timber. This was tentative evidence for an earlier culvert arrangement, with the existing structure being a replacement system. A depression at the base of the aperture, where it left the west face of the dam may have acted as a brake on the outflow velocity. 6.13 A broken plank in the roof of the timber culvert (east of the spillway dam) was probably the breach in the workings where water had recently escaped. A layer of puddled clay, which elsewhere blanketed the structure, was missing from this area. There were, however, obvious signs of an earlier leakage that had apparently been stemmed with plastic bags of crushed stone. The bags were certainly used in place of the plug which had been thrown to one side of the channel and later buried by the silt.

6.14 Examination of the shaped timber bung showed the rubber seal fixed with copper nails to the base was perished and torn. A wrought iron ring and the remains of a lifting rod were also noted; an iron bar recovered from the silt with a similar forged ring being the top of this rod. A pole threaded through the top ring and lifted by men on either bank was probably enough to break the seal and start the release.

6.15 Spanning the channel and attached to the east side of the inlet box was a large beam set into the puddled clay base. Rebates to either side of the box inlet, probably held vertical planking with some of these displaced timbers having survived near the sidewalls. The planks were almost certainly fixed to a wooden rail that sat 0.9m above the beam and slotted into holes in the stonework sides; the rotted ends of this timber being still located within the recesses. The submerged ‘fence’ was probably not much higher than the rail, but owing to its near complete destruction, it was difficult to interpret. It may have stopped any large branches from knocking into and dislodging the plug, resulting in an unexpected and possibly damaging surge of water downstream. Alternatively the structure guided water and silt directly into the inlet during the periodic ‘flushing’ of the channel. 7. ROUGH CASCADE RECORDING

7.1 Rough Cascade The Rough Cascade comprised a broad stone-lined channel which descended westwards within the Slopes Garden, draining the feeder canal from the South Pond. It had a horizontal length of 20.5m, and a vertical descent of 5.9m. The side walls had a height of up to 2.4m, and the base comprised an uneven fall of boulders and cobbles.

The earliest stonework (designated as ‘Phase 1’) was located at the top of the Cascade near the spillway dam. This comprised mostly rusticated (rock-faced) Pennine sandstone blocks, up to 0.3m by 0.8m, very similar to that used in the dam west face. This also included a line of chamfered ashlar blocks near the base. Above this Phase 1 masonry was an area of stonework designated as Phase 2 stonework. This was mostly chamfered ashlar Pennine sandstone blocks, up to 0.23m by 0.9m.

The initial near-horizontal masonry apron at the base of the dam terminated to the west with a step down. Beside this step (in the southern wall only) was a vertical slot and recess with probable remains of a north-south timber beam (shown in blue on section drawing Figure 38). The slot may have located a temporary timber board, to vary the flow of water onto the cascade. A tight seal would have been made between the board and lower beam.

This level apron may have continued a further 3.2m westwards, matching the modern concrete footing in the northern side wall. Water flowing across this apron would have arrived at the top of an earlier base to the structure, the remains of which were evident in both side walls.

These remains consisted of an alignment of Pennine flagstones on a similar, if slightly shallower pitch to the present floor of the cascade. The flags still projected up to 0.3m from the side wall faces, with a noticeable inward dip. Some of the slabs had been crudely broken through; with slots in the side walls representing other completely removed examples.

The surviving truncated flags, 50mm thick, by up to 1.35m wide, were arranged in groups of three and slightly overlapped. Each set of three was a consistent 2.63m in length, and these were interpreted as the planes or spillways of a ‘stepped’ cascade. Six such sets were identified in total, although others may have extended further westwards before the Cascade was subsequently modified. The steps separating the spillways were 0.29m high, with 0.11m overhangs to enable low waterfalls to form. Above the flagged lines, the well-built channel walls are described as squared coursed rubble walling. All of the other features noted, such as areas of rebuilding, pipe inserts, etc, appeared to be of modern origin.

The breaking out of the cascade’s formal stepped base and the deepening of the feature probably took place in the early C19. This exposed crude footings which were clearly never intended to be seen. The drystone construction was described as random rubble walling. The existing floor to the cascade provides a more naturalistic appearance, with massive rounded boulders and low revetments to vary the flow. However, it seems likely that the Cascade base has deteriorated due to flood events, and boulders which have been swept down the Cascade have lodged within the culvert to the west.

7.2 Culvert to west of Cascade For constructional details, see 8.1 and 8.3 below. The culvert ‘sink’ was located at the west end of the Rough Cascade, where it entered a rectangular stone-built tunnel, with a flat roof. At the downstream end, it is assumed to reconnect with the buried pipe (DBA, Site 7), somewhere to the west of the semi-circular pond (DBA Site 5).

The culvert had a length of 42.2m between the Cascade and the car park gate at the west end of the Slopes Garden. Over this distance, the channel base fell by a vertical distance of about 3.75m. In plan, the culvert appeared to comprise two straight sections, with an offset at the site of Trench B. This offset may have related to the original form of the Cascade, which probably terminated somewhere between Trenches A and B. The apparent northward curve in the culvert, to the west of Trench A, was determined by measurement with a Laser Distomat. It was established by removing the hatch that water was not flowing through the inspection chamber inside the projected extent of the semi-circular pond (DBA Site 5). 8. TRIAL TRENCHING RESULTS

8.1 Trench A Description

This trench was located in the Slopes Garden, at the lower end of the linear depression which appeared to extend westwards from the Rough Cascade. It was intended to determine whether the Cascade had originally extended down through this area. It measured 5.36m long by 1.25m in width, and was excavated to a maximum depth of about 1.25m.

The earliest context was east-west Pennine sandstone culvert (07), at the south end of the trench. This had a visible length in excess of 1.25m, a width of 1.3m, and a height of 0.75m. The walls were well built, and uncoursed, with good internal faces. The top was capped by two large slabs, up to 0.8m by 0.4m by 0.15m. An opening between capstones was 0.15m wide. The base was also formed of large slabs.

Context (05) was a 0.9m by 0.4m by 0.15m linear arrangement of three crude Pennine stone blocks, located within subsoil (04), and covering an opening in the top of the culvert. These were loose and easily moved, with the northernmost slab raised on smaller stones.

Context (06) was a 0.1m thick layer of orange-brown, hard and compact clay with pebbles up to 50mm across. This was overlying, and packed between the stones of culvert (07), although it was absent below and around (05). Context (04) was a 0.35m to 0.7m deep layer of grey-brown, soft and gritty loamy clay with pebbles, brick fragments, lime mortar and a C19 potsherd (blue and white). This sealed clay (06).

Context (03) was a 0.3m to 0.45m thick layer of dark brown soft loam with small pebbles, overlying fill (04), and formed the modern topsoil. The U-shaped cut (02) was into topsoil (03). It had a diameter of 0.7m, and a depth 0.4m. The edge definition was unclear; and it had a fill (01) of dark brown, soft loam with small stones and plastic fragments.

8.2 Trench A Interpretation Context (07) represented a mid to late nineteenth century culvert, channelling the flow from the Rough Cascade westwards towards the car park. There was no clear evidence that the Cascade itself may have extended this far downhill. Context (05) probably represented an access point into the culvert, and was probably contemporary with it. Context (06) was a contemporary packing layer around the culvert, and context (04) a contemporary make up layer above the culvert. Context (03) appeared to represent a C20 build-up of topsoil. Contexts (01) and (02) represent a modern cut and fill.

8.3 Trench B Description This trench was located within the Slopes Garden, half way between Trench A and the west end of the Rough Cascade. It measured 5.25m long by 1.25m in width, and had a maximum depth of 1.05m.

The earliest context appeared to be remains of east-west aligned Pennine sandstone wall (07) at the south end of the trench. It had a width of 0.8m, and a depth of 0.7m. It comprised a crude drystone construction, with blocks up to 0.5m by 0.5m by 0.12m thick. A musket ball was found within this context. Context 08 was restricted to the north end of the trench, and comprised a yellow-brown, hard and compact mixed clay with some charcoal. It was possibly a redeposited natural soil, and was possibly contemporary with wall (07).

Context (05) was east-west Pennine sandstone built culvert, near the centre of the trench. It had a width of 2.6m, and a height of 0.84m. The south wall was well built with a good internal face, but very rough externally. The north wall was well built with good internal and external faces, both walls were uncoursed. The top was capped by large slabs up to 0.9m by 0.7m, by 0.2m thick. The base was formed of large slabs.

Context (06) was a 0.4m deep fill of grey-brown, soft silty clay with large stones (0.2 by 0.2 by 0.1m), which overlay wall (07). Context (04) was a 0.45m deep layer of orange-brown, compact sandy clay with small to medium stones and rounded pebbles. This overlay culvert (05) and clay (08). Context (03) comprised the topsoil, up to 0.5m thick, as a layer of dark brown, loose loam with small stones. A U-shaped cut (02) affected fills (03), (04) and (06). It was clearly defined, with a diameter of 0.65m, and a depth of 0.7m. The fill of this cut was (01), a dark brown, soft loam with pebbles, mortar and plastic fragments.

8.4 Trench B Interpretation Context (07) probably represented the remains of the south wall of an earlier cascade or open channel, probably C18 in date. Fill (08) was possibly contemporary with wall (07), or with culvert (05). Context (05) represented a mid to late C19 culvert, the north wall of this structure having originally been the north wall of the C18 cascade or open channel. Wall (07) probably provided construction stone for culvert (05).

Context (06) was probably demolition material from wall (07). Context (04) may have represented contemporary packing around the mid to late C19 culvert. Context (03) represented a C20 accumulation of topsoil. Context (02) and (01) were a modern cut and fill.

8.5 Trench C Description Trench C was located at the eastern edge of the large car park, at the base of the drystone wall which marked the western limit of the elevated Dutch Garden. It was intended to locate any surviving evidence for DBA Feature 5, the semi-circular pond which originated before 1824, and was still open in 1976. It measured 5.85m from south-east to north-west, by 1.25m in width. It had a maximum depth of 1.50m.

The earliest context encountered was probably orange-brown, sandy clay (11). This was hard and compact, with angular stones, brick fragments and charcoal. It was encountered at the north end of the trench. Linear cut (10), through fill (11), was clearly defined, and contained the solid remains of a gently curving sandstone block wall (09). This was recorded for a length of 1.6m, and had a width of 0.5m, and a height of 1.2m. It comprised coursed, squared blocks of Pennine sandstone, bonded by soft red clay. Context (08) comprised a surface of Pennine stone slabs, within a sondage, near the centre of the trench. The slabs measured in excess of 0.45m by 0.7m, and were probably associated with wall (09).

Context (07) was a 90mm thick layer of pale grey, soft and gritty sandy silt with angular stones, which overlay slabs (08). Context (06) was up to 0.23m thick, and comprised a layer of black, soft organic silt. It rose to a slightly higher level, where it butted against wall (09). It overlay sandy silt (07). Context 05 was a thick wedge-shaped layer, between 0.4m and 0.8m thick, of dirty grey-brown, soft and compact sandy clay with angular stones (10%) and modern rubbish. It was deeper against wall (09), which it overlay, as well as silt (06). Context (04) was another wedge-shaped layer, between 0.2m and 0.8m thick, of pinkish- brown, compact and gritty sandy clay with angular stones (5%). This overlay fill (05).

Within the centre of the trench, a linear U-shaped cut (02) affected fills (04), (05) and wall (09). This had a length of 1.7m, a width of 0.35m, and a depth of 0.75m. The edge definition was sharp, and the fill (03) of this cut comprised compacted MOT No.1, with a modern plastic drainage pipe at the base. Context (01), up to 0.35m thick, was a surface layer of compacted crushed stone.

8.6 Trench C Interpretation Fill (11) may represent a pre-nineteenth century deposit, possibly reworked natural soil. Contexts (09) and (08) comprise the remains of the early nineteenth century semi-circular pond. Contexts (07) and (06) represent silt accumulation probably from the earlier 20th century. Contexts (05) and (04) comprise late 20th century infilling of the pond. Contexts (03) and (02) represented a modern cut and drainage pipe. Fill (01) comprised the modern surface.

The internal face of the excavated curved masonry wall of the semi-circular pond had a radius of about 4.65m. The centre of the arc was located about a metre to the west of the centre of the blocked aperture in the adjacent retaining wall. This seems to confirm that the aperture was intended to allow water to flow into the pond, from the pond located within the Dutch Garden. Originally, the water probably flowed straight through the aperture, as in Figure 39; but by the late 19th century a small semi- circular ‘island’ had appeared within the pond. This final arrangement is suggested as Figure 40.

8.7 Trench D Description This trench was located immediately to the north-east of the point where West Drive passed over the stream which feeds the Millpond (or ‘Lower Pond’). It measured 12.90m north-south, by 1.25m wide. It was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.85m. It was intended to determine whether the circular ‘Bason’ (DBA Feature 8) had ever existed. The projected arc of this feature was plotted as passing through this area, hence trenching might be expected to locate evidence. An initial setting-out error resulted in the trench being extended further southwards to its maximum length. The earliest context encountered was a mottled orange-brown to grey, sandy clay (05), which extended across the northernmost two-thirds of the trench, and a small area in the south-west corner. This was compact with small pebbles, and appeared to represent natural subsoil. It was in excess of 0.15m in depth.

Towards the north end of the trench was irregular cut (06), into clay (05). This measured 0.97m by 1.1m, and passed into the east section, with a poorly defined edge. The fill (07) comprised a grey-brown, soft silty clay. This was probably redeposited natural. It contained c.20% small stones with some brick fragments. Adjoining (06) was cut (08), a sub-circular feature which measured 0.3m by 0.5m, with an unclear edge definition. The fill was a grey-brown soft gritty clay (09), which was probably redeposited natural. It contained small pebbles and a fragment of handmade brick (60mm thick).

Context (10) was a 50mm thick layer of mottled orange-brown, compacted sandy clay with some small pebbles, brick fragments and charcoal. This overlay natural (05) within the south part of Trench D. Context (04) was up to 0.2m thick layer of orange, compacted sandy clay with some small pebbles. It overlay natural (05) and fill (10).

Context (03) was a 0.15m thick layer of mid to dark brown, soft sandy clay with 70% stones and pebbles (up to 70mm). This overlay fill (04). Context (02) was a 0.14m thick layer of dark grey, soft sandy clay with small stone fragments. This overlay fill (03), and extended down to the base at the extreme south of the trench. Context (01) was up to 0.15m thick layer of mid brown, soft sandy loam with a very few small pebbles, and comprised the topsoil.

8.8 Trench D Interpretation Context (05) probably comprised the natural subsoil. Contexts (08) and (06) were pits of unknown function, possibly for post holes for a fence. The brick in fill (09) suggests a C18 date. Contexts (10) and (04) were possibly C19 make-up layers for the existing causeway of West Drive. Context (19) was probably a C19 fill, whilst context (02) was buried topsoil and a probable tree throw hollow, to the extreme south of the trench. Context (01) was modern topsoil.

This trench did not reveal any evidence at this location to suggest that the circular pond had ever existed. It is possible that the pond was located further to the south, although it seems much more likely, given the single source of information about this feature, that it was only planned, and was never executed. 9.0 SITE INTERPRETATION

9.1 Historically, the Swine Ground appears to have been the plot through which the principal access route to Lyme Hall, from Macclesfield, passed. There are no indications of when pigs may have been kept there, and such a practice may have ceased long before the survey of 1686. The present area of the Swine Ground, now in use as a car park, appears to be a natural amphitheatre-like feature, formed at the junction of two valleys, and originally crossed by a pair of stream channels (DBA Features 7 and 9).

9.2 The circular water ‘bason’ (DBA Feature 8) may never have existed, as there is only a single plan which shows this feature, and no other corroborating evidence. However, there are features within the stream bed to the north of the West Drive bridge (DBA Site 10), which cannot be satisfactorily explained.

9.3 There was clear cartographic and pictorial evidence for the small semi-circular pond within the eastern part of the existing car park, and good archaeological evidence was revealed here by evaluation within Trench C. The solidity of the base and walls of this feature would suggest that it could be reinstated with a fair degree of accuracy.

9.4 Archaeological investigation has now cast a significant amount of light upon the nature and development of the previously enigmatic Rough Cascade. There appear to be three construction phases within this feature.

9.5 The first construction phase resulted in a stepped cascade formed with a Pennine flagstone base, and coursed sandstone channel walls. This would probably have resembled the cascade at Chatsworth, which was apparently constructed just before 1700. This feature appears to have extended further westwards than the present Cascade, to a point somewhere between the sites of Trenches A and B; as in Trench B a pair of substantial wall footings were identified which appeared to pre-date the culvert. These were 2.05m apart internally, considerably less than the 3.4m width of the Rough Cascade, implying that the channel width may have been progressively constricting towards the downstream terminal, where it probably entered the culvert as seen in Trench A.

9.6 This stepped cascade seems likely to have been the one illustrated by Aikin in 1795, as it appears to run along the south side of the Dutch Garden. It seems distinctly possible that this was the cascade mentioned in 1738, for which Peter Platt received a payment, and that this related to landscaping works associated with the rebuilding of the house by Leoni. 9.7 However, a cascade of some form was mentioned at Lyme in 1704, and 1705. This may have occupied the line of the present cascade, or it might have been further to the north, along the east-west axis of the Dutch Garden, as in the Nattes drawing of 1769, a possible sluice is shown at the west end of the South Pond. A sluice at this point may have fed into the large rectangular pond in the Dutch Garden, first shown on the 1824 plan. The existing feed to the fountain comprises a modern steel pipe running from the west end of the feeder canal.

9.8 The earliest mention of the ‘Rough Cascade’ is on a plan by Lewis Wyatt, who undertook landscaping works at Lyme in 1813-17. He is believed to have constructed the stone retaining walls around the Bull Pen and the Dutch Garden. It is feasible that the flagged floor of the cascade was removed at this time, and a new floor of boulders and cobbles inserted, to present a feature more in common with a Pennine stream bed. The length of the cascade was also shortened, perhaps by as much as 20 metres, with this part of the original open channel being encased within the extended culvert.

9.9 The 1871 O.S. plan (Figure 7) indicates the cascade at its present, shortened length. Between the cascade and the lower ground to the west and north there appears to be a density of trees which implies that the cascade was no longer intended to be viewed from those distant areas, and may now have been seen as a feature only to be encountered at close quarters. It is possible that the small structure (DBA feature 12) may have comprised a small pedestrian shelter to allow the cascade to be viewed from its lowest point. The subsequent cartographic sources indicate that the Slopes Garden has remained wooded ever since. The restoration work during the 1980s might suggest that the cascade had been neglected during the 20th century. The eroded condition of the cascade base may also imply this. 10.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

10.1 There would seem to be considerable scope for returning the area of the Swine Ground to a pre-existing, much more attractive appearance, by re-opening infilled water features and restoring the car park surfaces to grassland. Any works in this area should be accompanied by an archaeological watching brief, as invariably more information will be added to the existing record.

10.2 Any construction works related to the Rough Cascade, feeder channel, and culvert should be accompanied by an archaeological watching brief, given the potential for further understanding of these features.

10.3 If there was any sort of water feature linking between the South Pond and the earlier rectangular pond within the Dutch Garden, it seems that much of the evidence may have been destroyed by the works of Lewis Wyatt, in raising the revetment walls. However, evidence may survive within the lawn adjacent to the South Pond. Archaeological investigation here could be undertaken by utilising a community archaeology team, with local volunteers. Geophysical survey could pinpoint possible features, being followed up by small trial trenches. SOURCES

Abbreviations CRO – Cheshire Record Office GMCRO – County Records Office (Manchester Archives) JRL – John Rylands Library LP – Lyme Park SLHL – Stockport Local Heritage Library

Bibliography

Addy J (ed) 1987 The Diary of Henry Prescott, LL.B., Deputy Registrar of Chester Diocese. Volume 1, 28 March 1704-24 March 1711, Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire vol 127.

ArcHeritage 2013 Lyme Park Archaeological Condition Survey: Assessment Report, unpublished report for the National Trust.

Banks E 1993 Lyme Park Restoration Management Plan, Elizabeth Banks Ltd, unpublished report for the National Trust.

Cookson & Tickner 2013 Lyme Park Parkland Conservation Management Plan, Final Report, unpublished report for the National Trust.

Cookson & Tickner 2015 Lyme Park Garden Conservation Management Plan, Final Report, unpublished report for the National Trust.

Marriott Revd W 1810 The Antiquities of Lyme and it Vicinity, Stockport.

Matrix Archaeology Ltd 2013 Timberyard Buildings, Lyme Park, Cheshire: Historic Building Survey, Client Report No. 2013-07

OAN 2006 Lyme Park, Cheshire: Detailed Survey of Aspects of the Historical Landscape Development, 4 vols, Oxford Archaeology North, unpublished report for the National Trust.

Rothwell J 2012 Lyme Park House and Garden, National Trust.

Stockport Corporation 1952 Lyme Park: An Illustrated Description of the House and Grounds. Thorp R 2015 Inspection of Lyme Park Lakes, National Trust unpublished report.

Waterson M 1980 ‘Lyme Park: the Last Ten Years’, in G Jackson-Stops (ed) National Trust Studies 1981, Sotheby Parke Bernet Publications, 128-32.

Maps and Plans

Plan of proposed landscaping at Lyme Park, early 18th-century (copy at LP, reproduced from OAN 2006).

Plan of the Swine Ground by Lewis Wyatt, c 1813-17 (copy, LP).

Plan of Lyme Park in the County of Chester belonging to Thomas Legh Esqr. M.P., by Thomas Pollitt surveyor 1824 (GMCRO E17/210/167).

Plan of the Township of Lyme-Handley with Lyme in the Parish of Prestbury and County Palatine of Chester, c 1850 (CRO EDT 252/2).

OS 1:2500 Cheshire sheet XXIX.2, surveyed 1871.

OS 1:2500 Cheshire sheet XXIX.2 Second Edition 1897, revised 1896.

OS 1:2500 Cheshire sheet XXIX.2 Edition of 1909, revised 1907.

OS 1:2500 SJ 9682-9782, revised 1971, published 1972.

Lyme Park Block Plan of Area Surrounding Hall, Stockport County Borough Parks Dept, 12 May 1947 (LP).

Lyme Park - Approach to the Hall, September 1976 with alterations in 1977 (LP).