Monument record MLI10035 - Rochford Tower

Summary

Rochford Tower.

Type and Period (4)

  • (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD) + Sci.Date
  • (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

A late 15th to early 16th century brick structure, with stone windows, embattled parapet and corner stairway, that is now derelict. There are considerable foundations in the enclosure adjacent to the tower. The tower takes its name from the Rochford family mentioned as early as 1274. Sir Ralph Rochford was living here in 1390. The present tower was probably built about 1504, when the property was granted to the Abbot of Westminster. An adjoining house of that period was taken down in 1807. From about 1600 until 1816, the property was owned by the Kyme family and became known as Kyme Tower. It is published as such on the Ordnance Survey 1 inch map of 1824. It is scheduled as Rochford Tower. Cropmarks both rectangular and circular are visible on an aerial photograph at TF 350446 and possibly indicate associated structures. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5} It is surrounded by ploughland and no evidence of buildings was seen. {6} In 1975 dressed stone blocks were found near the tower at TF 352447, measuring 38cm by 30cm. {7} There was an excavation of a possible moat in 1967 but this remains unpublished. {8}{9} A red-brick tower resembling Hussey Tower at Boston (PRN 10029): both are humbler progeny of Tattershall Castle (PRN 43561), in the tower-house tradition. The date is about 1450-60. It has an embattled parapet, turrets corbelled out at the angles and the octagonal stair at the south-east angle communicates with three floors. Some windows are of stone, and two have a little tracery. There is a brick-vaulted ground-floor room or basement. In the first-floor room there are traces of wall paintings, now very weathered showing St Anne teaching the Virgin, the Annunciation, St Michael, St Anthony, and a coat of arms supported by angels. {10}{11}{12} The scheduling was revised 16/04/1999. {13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Index: OS CARD INDEX. FISHTOFT. TF 34 SE:1,1965, D.A..
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Pishey Thompson. 1856. The Histories and Antiquities of Boston. P 318-322.
  •  Article in Serial: TROLLOPE, E.. 1970. Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. VOL 10 P 207.
  •  Scheduling Record: MINISTRY OF WORKS. MOW 819. 1940:11:A P 4.
  •  Index: HBMC. 1961. ANCIENT MONUMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. 63.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1950. 6:541:568; 3166-7.
  •  Index: SMR FILE. FISHTOFT. TF 34 SE:B,1965, BULLIVANT G.
  •  Unpublished Document: Ministry of Housing and Local Gov Ministry of Housing and Local Government. 1967. MHLG. FISHTOFT. -.
  •  Aerial Photograph: Aerial Photograph. AO:65:38;1&2.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). 2nd Rev Edn p278.
  •  Photograph: PARISH FILE. FISHTOFT. -.
  •  Report: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992. Rochford Tower, Fishtoft, Boston. -.
  •  Scheduling Record: English Heritage. 1999. Revised scheduling document 31626. MPP 23.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 35086 44491 (13m by 15m) Surveyed
Civil Parish FISHTOFT, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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Record last edited

Jan 5 2024 10:23AM

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