Rigmaden Park, Mansergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. Archaeological Watching Brief.

William Wilson (hereafter ‘the Client’) has submitted proposals for the development of several single-storey extensions to the house of Rigmaden Park, Mansergh, Kirkby
Lonsdale, Cumbria (SD 6100 8478; Planning Ref 5/05/0269). Consequently, Cumbria County Council Historic Environment Service (CCCHES), after consultation with South Lakeland District Council, issued a brief for a programme of archaeological works, including a watching brief during any ground disturbing activities. Oxford Archaeology North issued a project design to carry out the above programme of work in accordance with the CCCHES brief and was commissioned by William Wilson to undertake a watching brief.
The watching brief was carried out over two days in October and November 2005 and comprised monitoring of six test pits and then a q-shaped foundation trench adjoining the north-east corner of the present house. The groundworks, which were between 0.68m and 1.3m deep, revealed a series of stone and brick walls relating to two phases of construction. The earliest, thought to relate to the house built c 1678, or even to its medieval predecessor, were north/south aligned, quoin constructed, and survived to over 1m in height. Those of the second phase were aligned east/west and north/south
and were likely to relate to part of the house built in 1825 and demolished in 1992.
These walls were, from surviving records, identified as being part of the cellar and, indeed, part of a subterranean entrance was observed during the watching brief.