Platts Hall, Northwich, Cheshire. Archaeological Evaluation

In April and July 1998 Lancaster University Archaeological Unit carried out an archaeological
evaluation at Platts Hall, Lostock Gralam, Cheshire (NGR SJ 682744), on behalf of P J Livesey
Developments Ltd. The evaluation was part of a comprehensive programme of recording of Platts
Hall, which was a seventeenth century timber framed building with nineteenth century additions to
the east, designed to accompany the dismantling of the structure, and the movement of materials from
the west wing for re-erection at nearby Bostock Hall.
The archaeological evaluation was undertaken after the demolition of the structure, and was confined
to the footprint of the west wing, which contained substantial remains of a timber-framed house
which has a dated timber plaque of 1655 (LUAU 1998). However, documentary evidence has shown
that there was a building on the site in 1631, prior to the construction date of the extant structure, and
the evaluation was therefore intended to demonstrate whether there was evidence for an earlier
building surviving below ground.