Geophysics
A geophysicist is someone who studies the earth using gravity, magnetic, electrical, and seismic methods. Some geophysicists spend most of their time outdoors studying various features of the earth, and others spend most of their time indoors using computers for modelling and calculations.
This is the data from a field survey.
The dark areas are archaeological features.
Magnetometry
& Resitivity Magnetometry is the technique of measuring and mapping patterns of magnetism in the soil. Ancient activity, particularly burning, leaves magnetic traces that show up even today when detected with the right equipment.
A Local Project We are carrying out a geophysical survey of the site which once Collyhurst Hall stood. The site is just off Rochdale Road, near Collyhurst Children's Centre. This project has lots of partners including Manchester Communication Academy, Tameside Archaeological Society, Salford University and the Collyhurst Big Local. We are all very interested to find out exactly where Collyhurst Hall was and to see if we can find any other structures or finds associated with it.
Our History If you were to walk around Manchester many hundreds of years ago it would look very different. There were many fine houses and halls. The biggest building in Collyhurst was known as Collyhurst Hall.
Collyhurst Hall
1830 Ryder Estate Map—Super-imposed on OS map
This map shows Collyhurst Hall near the centre of the field and various unidentified structures which we are investigating. The large curved feature is a moat.
Local History We don't know exactly when the first Collyhurst Hall was built but there was a hall on the site from at least the early 1600’s when it was owned by members of the Mosley family. It is likely the hall is older but we have no evidence. This is one question we hope to resolve. Collyhurst Hall was demolished in 1831. The last resident was Mr Charles Ryder, after whom, Ryder Street was named. He was also the owner of a cotton mill on Collyhurst Street.
Aerial View of the site & location of trenches
Community
Involvement Archaeologists will use the information from the geophysical survey to help them to locate Collyhurst Hall and any associated structures. This will be followed by a full scale community excavation where everyone will be welcome to take part. We are going to need lots of help from the community!
If you would like more information on this project, or would like to keep up to date with it please contact Kieran Power, Community Archaeologist, at MCA ,on 0161 202 0161 or email k.power@mca.mancheste r.sch.uk