LAST week I started to list the 12 ancient monuments in St Helens which have been recognised by Historic England.

We started with Bold Old Moat House and Bold Hall Moated site but here is the next selection.

ST MICHAEL'S HOUSE

Alternatively known as St Michael's House, the surviving part of the island contains brick and sandstone structural remains of the pose medieval St Michael's House protruding above the surface. An ornamental low stone wall lies close to the island's southwest corner.

The moat is dry throughout. The Moat House was the birth place of John Wyke, famous for developing the wheel cutting engine used in the watch trade. The original extent of the moat was in existence in the mid 19th century but by 1896 it had been modified to its present appearance.

All fences and hedges are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath them is included. The ruins of the post medieval buildings are also included in the scheduling because any disturbance to them is likely to damage underlying remains.

HEAVY ANTI AIRCRAFT GUNSITE - BOLD

The classification of ancient monuments extends not just to the Industrial Revolution but to the Second World War. These sites are important in their role in our history and heritage and should be valued by all generations.

The monument in Bold includes the remains of a Second World War anti-aircraft gunsite known as Station H17. It includes a command post, radar platform, four gun emplacements, a generator and ancillary buildings to the east of South Lane Farm.

The site was commissioned in 1940 and manned by units from the Royal Artillery. The site was not selected as one of the 192 sites retained after the war as part of the Nucleus Force which formed part of the defences.

The buildings no longer survive above ground apart from a water tank in the southern side of the site beside the main road. This area has been disturbed by later buildings including a modern bungalow on the south east end of the domestic camp area.

RAINHILL - ST ANN’S WELL

Is it with an 'e' or without? The problem is conflicting date. The well has been excavated and studied several times by archaeologists, always to be reburied. It is the subject of several local legends including a nasty death.

The monument is a shallow well, lined with stone blocks, close to the brook which separates the townships of Rainhill and Sutton. It is a square basin, nearly two metres wide and almost as deep. It is made of sandstone blocks with a level stone floor. Two steps lead down into the bottom of the well from the west side.

In the 19th century it had a reputation for healing diseases.