ARCHAEOLOGISTS from Manchester University dug into a piece of history recently when they unearthed the foundations of Sale Old Hall.

Led by site supervisor Graham Mottershead a team of four worked steadily for four weeks on the site at Rifle Road.

And they come across some interesting items during the dig.

Sale Old Hall was built in 1603 by James Massey. It passed by marriage into other landed families, including the Earl of Stamford.

The hall was rebuilt in its final form by Mrs Mary Worthington in 1840, around the same time as the dovecote, which is being rebuilt in nearby Walkden Gardens.

The hall was finally demolished in 1920 and has been largely covered over since then.

Graham Mottershead told SAM: "We thought the hall could have been constructed on the site of an earlier timber framed building."

But the team found no evidence that this was the case.

"Because it was cleared in the 19th century a lot of the very early stuff will have been removed," Graham said.

The team's biggest find was a late 17th/ early 18th century pot, which they unearthed in what would have been a rubbish tip by the kitchen.

The site will now be filled in so work on the motorway widening programme can begin.