Site Event/Activity record ENT5369 - Geophysical Survey at Beauvale Manor Farm, Greasley
Location
| Location | Beauvale Manor Farm, Grwasley, Nottinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | Centred SK 49431 48508 (67m by 65m) |
| Map sheet | SK44NE |
| District | Broxtowe |
| Civil Parish | Greasley, Broxtowe |
Technique(s)
Organisation
Archaeological Research Services
Date
Not recorded.
Description
The site is located between Eastwood and Hucknall, some 7 miles north west of Nottingham city centre. The survey area is bound to the north-west by Beauvale Manor Farm house, to the south-east by a continuation of this scrub land, to the south-west by open fields and the north-east by the hard standing of the farm yard and the PDA.
The GPR equipment used in this investigation comprised of the Mala Ground Explorer with a 450 MHz antenna. The equipment was set to scan a time range of 60 ns, which achieved an effective depth of investigation approximately 2 m below ground level. The system was calibrated to record a measurement every 10 mm for all data acquired.
Interpretation of the acquired GPR data supports the suggestion that there are likely to be two buried cisterns beneath the area surveyed.
Whilst it is always possible that these cisterns are high medieval, it seems more likely that they date to the 15th/16th centuries at the earliest. Even though there are springs in the valley, and many recorded cisterns were spring fed, here we see distinct, probably clay lined ground funneling identified, certainly evident on the North-Western example and likely also on the South-Eastern. Logic suggests this was to channel rain water into the cisterns, and whilst rain has always been a source of water for storage, this funnelling appears to be unique with no equivalent examples having been discovered, although it seems most likely that this is because it has not been recognised to date.
It cannot be ignored that by the 18th century Rainbacks were becoming common amongst the middle classes. In these, rainwater was channelled from the buildings roof into underground cisterns.
There is a further anomaly identified which may relate to a modern draw pit or drainage feature.
There are also a number of further buried utilities in the area, and while some have been identified as part of this interpretation others are likely to exist that have not been clearly identified.
Sources/Archives (1)
- --- SNT5993 Unpublished document: Stephen Twist & Dave Underhill. 2021. Geophysical Survey: Ground Penetrating Radar, Beauvale Manor Farm, Greasley, Notts.
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
- MNT28643 Possible Cisterns at Beauvale Manor Farm, Greasley (Element)
Record last edited
Aug 26 2025 4:25PM