Building record MLI12651 - Pescod Hall, Mitre Lane, Boston

Summary

Pescod Hall, Mitre Lane, Boston.

Type and Period (7)

  • (Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1450 AD to 1973 AD)
  • (Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1450 AD to 1973 AD)
  • (Post Medieval to Modern - 1794 AD to 2050 AD)
  • (Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1450 AD to 1973 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1895 AD to 1895 AD)
  • (Mid 20th Century to Late 20th Century - 1960 AD? to 1974 AD)
  • (Late 20th Century to 21st Century - 1975 AD to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Pescod hall dates to about 1450, and was excavated by the Boston Archaeological Society in 1974. The foundations were found below a clay layer. {1} Pescod hall is timber-framed with brick infilling, probably the fragment of a mid 15th century Merchant's house. It was taken down and rebuilt in 1973 to 1974 and now stands in uncomfortable isolation, an unfortunate example of restoration at the expense of conservation. {2}{3}{4} 'The remains of Pescod hHuse, the residence of the family of Pescod, are at the upper end of...Pescod lane. What remains of this ancient house is represented in the engraving in the previous page.' {5}{6} Surrounded by a modern shopping development is this reconstruction of part of a mid 15th century timber framed hall. By the mid 19th century the building had been dismantled and in 1972 it was moved to this site. It consists of two parallel gabled ranges with brick infill. There is a medieval brass dedicated to Walter Pescod, died 1398, in St. Botolph's. {7}{8} There seems to be little evidence for the history outlined by Source 7. The mid 19th century engraving in Pishey Thompson shows part of a surviving timber-framed building that is recognisable as the side and gable end of Pescod Hall - so it was still standing in 1856; and the 1968 1:2500 OS map shows Pescod Hall standing on (or very close to) its present site. It would seem likely that the building was dismantled in c.1972 to 1973, the site excavated in 1974 and the building re-erected subsequently on (or adjacent to) its original site. Smith was possibly confused by the timber yard shown in the foreground of the engraving in Pishey. {9} A desk based assessment and timber survey of Pescod Hall were undertaken in 2001. The desk based assessment records that Pescod Hall dates from c.1450 and was used as a warehouse sometime before 1895. Subsequently, the building became a shop and was purchased by Oldrids in the 20th century. In 1972, Oldrids began to demolish Pescod Hall in order to reassemble and restore the building on almost the same footprint. This work was completed in 1974. The timber survey recorded the extent of original timbers which still survive within the building. {10}{11} A Merchant's house, now shop, dating from the 15th century which was rebuilt on the present site in 1974. It has an exposed timber frame with brick infill and an old plain tile roof. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {12}

Sources/Archives (11)

  •  Index: SMR FILE. BOSTON. TF 34 SW: AJ, Bullivant, G..
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). p.164.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Harden, Gillian. 1978. MEDIEVAL BOSTON AND ITS ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. p.34.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Harden, Gillian. 1978. MEDIEVAL BOSTON AND ITS ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. plate.18.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Pishey Thompson. 1856. The Histories and Antiquities of Boston. pp.205-6.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: SMITH, M.. 1990. BOSTON TOWN TRAIL. pp.10-1.
  •  Graphic Material: SMITH, M.. 1990. BOSTON TOWN TRAIL. p.11.
  •  Map: Ordnance Survey. 1968. OS 1:2500 SERIES. TF 3244.
  •  Report: ARCUS. 2001. Historic Building Report on Pescod Hall in Boston, Lincolnshire. -.
  •  Report: ARCUS. 2001. Timber Survey, Pescod Hall, Boston. -.
  •  Index: Department of the Environment. 1975. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 32897 44214 (13m by 13m) Surveyed
Civil Parish BOSTON, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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