Cattell, S. and Nevell, M. D. (2019). Houghton Tower Community Project. Salford Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.5284/1106685. Cite this using datacite

Title
Title
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Title:		 Houghton Tower Community Project
Series
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Series:		 Centre for Applied Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads:
centrefo4-409857_210158.pdf (18 MB) : Download
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DOI
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.5284/1106685
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Publication Type:		 Report (in Series)
Abstract
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Abstract:		 Salford Archaeology was commissioned by the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust to provide a range of archaeological survey and excavation activities working with community and local groups as part of the Hoghton Tower Community Survey and Excavation Project in order to explore the origins of the site. Between April and July 2019, a range of volunteer training workshops, geophysical surveys and excavation were carried out. Hoghton Tower, a Grade 1 listed building, is the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family who were descended directly from Harvey de Walter, one of the companions of William the Conqueror. The site is first mentioned in the 12th century but was rebuilt as a fortified hilltop manor house in the years 1560 to 1565 by Thomas Hoghton. Later the site played a part in the Civil War when it was besieged in 1642, resulting in the destruction of the Great Keep which was blown up with the loss of one hundred people. Although the house was extended and repaired in the 1690s, it had been abandoned by 1768 and rented to weavers and other craftsmen. The house was reoccupied and extensively rebuilt in the late 19th century and has remained the family residence until the present. As part of the project, a week-long test pit excavation was carried out on an area of raised ground to the north of the Banqueting Hall range. The aim of the excavation was to investigate and advance our knowledge of the pre-1560 site and to specifically target the northern side of the site as a potential location for the earliest structures at Hoghton Tower, and to assess the nature and survival of these remains. A total of eight test pits were excavated across the platform which targeted anomalies seen on the results of the geophysical survey as well as areas relating to existing visible features. A stone rubble layer was revealed in most of the test pits which was thought to be a demolition deposit and overlay all of the features on the site. Below this layer, further evidence of occupation was identified in the form of large dressed stone blocks, a possible rubble wall core and a 19th century cobbled surface. This suggested the presence of a stone structure or structures. The artefactual evidence uncovered comprised 14th - 19th century pottery sherds, heat affected glass, animal bone and occasional items of metalwork. The style of the structural remains revealed and date of the artefacts combined suggests that this part of the site was occupied by a stone building during the late medieval and early post-medieval periods. Survey work on the outer gatehouse was also undertaken revealing three phases of building work. The earliest fabric was no later than the mid-16th and might be earlier.
Author
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Author:		 Sarah Cattell
Michael D Nevell ORCID icon
Publisher
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Publisher:		 Salford Archaeology
Year of Publication
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Year of Publication:		 2019
Locations
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Locations:
County: Lancashire
District: Chorley
Country: England
Parish: Hoghton
Grid Reference: 362199, 426399 (Easting, Northing)
Subjects / Periods
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Subjects / Periods:
TRIAL TRENCH (Event)
TEST PIT (Event)
MANOR HOUSE (Monument Type England)
POST MEDIEVAL MANOR HOUSE (Tag)
POST MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
Identifiers
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OASIS Id: centrefo4-409857
Report id: SA/2019/100
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OASIS (OASIS)
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Created Date
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Created Date:		 28 Apr 2023