Monument record MLI20037 - The Settlement of Donington

Summary

The medieval settlement of Donington has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period and still survives today.

Type and Period (23)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Modern - 950 AD? to 2050 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1150 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 950 AD? to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1700 AD to 1899 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1700 AD to 1899 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1600 AD to 1699 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1800 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Undated)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1799 AD)
  • (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1800 AD to 1999 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The place name of Donington originates from the Old English, meaning 'the farmstead associated with Dunna', Dunna being an Old English personal name. {1} Donington is first mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086, as 'Donninctune' or 'Duninctune'. At this time, the land was owned by the Abbot of Peterborough and Count Alan, it contained 27 saltpans and 54 acres of meadow. It is thought that Donington was a fairly prosperous settlement, deriving its income from salt production. A population of 65 is recorded in Domesday. {2} In 1253 a charter was granted for John de Ry to hold a market in early summer for three days, two years later another charter was granted to Peter of Savoy to hold another three-day market in early summer. {3} In the early eighteenth century 120 to 160 families are recorded, including one Quaker. {4} In 1801 there are 1321 recorded residents in Donington, the population peaked in the nineteenth century at 2026 in 1841 and dropped steadily until, in 1901, there were 1486 persons recorded living there. {5} There are possible dyling remains visible on aerial photographs (PRN 20037a - TF 2111 3535). {6} Two farthings of George I and George III, two lead seals or tokens, one Boston overseers' copper token, two 19th century copper thimbles and a groat of Henry VIII were found (PRN 20037b - TF 208 359). {7}{8}{9} An area of slight earthworks, thought to indicate the presence of medieval ridge and furrow, has been identified in the grounds of Park House, Station Street (PRN 20037c - TF 2033 3564). {10} Four pottery sherds dating from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, 1 brick/tile fragment and sheep and cattle bones were recovered during a watching brief on land at Church Street (PRN 20037d - TF 2089 3575). {11}{12} A north-west to south-east aligned ditch, thought to be a field boundary, was recorded during a watching brief (PRN 20037e - TF 2026 3551). The ditch contained a quantity of late 17th to 19th century pottery, and was sealed by a topsoil containing 19th century pottery, suggesting that the ditch went out of use during the 19th century. {13}{14} A number of structures were recorded during a watching brief at the school (PRN 20037f - TF2127 3571). A brick built well and a series of walls were recorded, these are thought to be 18th century in origin. These structures correspond with buildings that can be seen on the 1905 Ordnance Survey map. {15}{16} A medieval pond containing 13th and 14th century pottery was recorded during trial trenching (PRN 20037g - TF 2077 3559). Two pits were also recorded, but it is thought more likely that these were post medieval and that the 13th to 14th century pottery found within one was re-deposited. A series of pits and ditches were also recorded across the site. A north-west to south-east aligned ditch, waterlogged at some point, appears to have been filled in the 16th or 17th century. This ditch contained domestic refuse and animal bone, including a quantity of cattle horn cores which were possibly supplied to a horn worker. A pit, possibly a cesspit, contained within a timber shed, appears to have been lined with planking, and was probably infilled by the mid 19th century. A further ditch, aligned north to south, corresponds to a boundary shown on maps of 1891 and 1906, but not on maps of 1834 and 1955. A large pit containing late post medieval refuse and millstone fragments was unexcavated due to sewage problems. Although no evidence for a mill was found on the site, maps dating from 1981 to 1955 show a corn mill 350m to the west. {17}{18} Two possible pits, thought to be for refuse disposal, were recorded during a watching brief (PRN 20037h - TF 2055 3566). The pit in Plot A contained one sherd of 13th to 15th century pottery; the pit in Plot B contained one sherd of 13th to 14th century pottery and a piece of clinker/fire residue. Pottery dating from the 12th to the 15th century was also recovered from the site. A post medieval ditch was also recorded containing residual medieval pottery and mid 18th to late 19th century pottery. The range of post medieval pottery suggests a degree of affluence. {19}{20} An archaeological watching brief identified a medieval buried topsoil as well as a beam slot and posthole; suggesting that a structure was located in the vicinity during this period (PRN 20037i - TF 2063 3565). Stratified finds dated the features to between the 12th and 14th century. {21}{22} A single unstratified sherd of Bourne ware medieval pottery, a post-medieval wall and some post-medieval pottery, glass, clay pipe and bone were recorded during a watching brief (PRN 20037j - TF 2094 3571). {23}{24} A scatter of medieval and a small quantity of post-medieval pottery was recovered (PRN 20037k - TF 2075 3562). {25}{26} A pond containing 5 sherds of 17th century pottery, 1 fragment of brick or tile and an iron object, was recorded during a watching brief (PRN 20037l - TF 2076 3563). {27}{28} Occupation deposits were discovered during work on land to the rear of the Black Bull Public House (PRN 20037m - TF 2083 3562). The earliest deposits date to the 9th to the 12th century and consist of a silted up palaeochannel and Stamford ware pottery sherds. At this stage the site appears to be peripheral to main settlement in the area. Occupation at this site appears to commence during the middle of the medieval period (12th to 14th century). Features of this period include pits and ditches, possibly related to structures. Pottery dating to this period was also recovered. There appears to have been a hiatus of activity during the 14th to 16th century. Post-medieval material was also recovered from this site, including pottery, clay pipes and building materials. Two unused but over fired bricks were recovered, suggesting the possibility of brick making in the vicinity of the site. {29}{30} A layer of reworked material, interpreted as a ground surface, was uncovered during a watching brief on land off Station Road (PRN 20037n - TF 2074 3561). Pottery recovered from this material suggests a 13th to 14th century date. {31}{32} A watching brief and archaeological excavation were carried out at Ash Court (PRN 20037o - TF 2080 3560). Activity occurred at the site continuously through three phases, beginning in late Anglo-Saxon times and continuing until the early post-medieval period. The earliest usage of the site from the 10th to the 12th century was peripheral, the evidence uncovered during this investigation consisting of pottery sherds and shells, mostly redeposited. Occupation commenced and intensified during the 13th and 14th century and features from this period consist of pits, gullies, ditches and post holes. These suggest the presence of structures and associated boundaries and rubbish pits. The finds recovered, mostly pottery and animal bone, suggest a domestic function with no craft or industrial activity at the site. During the later medieval or early post medieval period (15th to 16th century) occupation decreased again. A few pits, a ditch and evidence of levelling were uncovered alongside a small assemblage of pottery, again of domestic forms. A small scatter of late post-medieval artefacts were also recovered including brick, clay pipe fragments and pottery. {33}{34} A post medieval brick culvert, which could date from the 17th to the 19th century, was revealed during a watching brief at Thomas Crowley School (PRN 20037p - TF 2123 3574). This feature may pre-date the school, however the dating is not certain. Foundations of later post-medieval brick buildings were also seen. These were probably outside the school boundaries. {35}{36} Two pits, containing 13th to 14th century pottery and medieval brick, and a third pit, containing a sherd of 15th to 16th century pottery, were recorded during trial trenching (PRN 20037q - TF 2086 3577). In addition, 13th to 15th century and 15th to 16th century pottery and medieval brick or tile was also found in a layer cut by the pits. A former red brick yard surface and cess pit dating from the 16th to 18th century which relating to the 19th century houses and a layer with mid 18th century pottery was also found in this trench. In a further trial trench a 19th to 20th century dump of bottles, pottery, animal bone, clay pipe, slate and tile fragments was found along with a brick wall. {37}{38}

Sources/Archives (38)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. p.38.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 8/11; 12/61, 62.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Graham Platts. 1985. Land and People in Medieval Lincolnshire. Appendix 1.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: R.E.G. Cole. 1913. Speculum Dioeceseos Lincolniensis sub Episcopis Gul: Wake et Edm: Gibson A.D.1705-1723. Part 1: Archdeaconries of Lincoln and Stow. p.42.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. p.359.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. JZ 87-8, 1952.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 23 NW: AA.
  •  Unpublished Document: Ambrose, T.M.. 1978. IDENTIFICATION REPORT. REP 812-3 1067-9 01016.
  •  Unpublished Document: Ambrose, T.M.. 1978. PARISH FILE. DONINGTON. -.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. May 1999. Donington Conservation Area. DCA99.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2000. Land at Church Street, Donington. DCS99.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2000. Land at Church Street, Donington. LCNCC 164.99.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Aug 2000. Land at Station Street, Donington. DNS00.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Aug 2000. Land at Station Street, Donington. LCNCC 2000.91.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2001. Donington Cowley Secondary School, Donington. DCSS01.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2001. Donington Cowley Secondary School, Donington. LCNCC 2001.412.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. March 2001. Ashcourt, Donington. DAC01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. March 2001. Ashcourt, Donington. LCNCC 2001.3.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Nov 2001. 49 Station Street, Donington. DSS01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Nov 2001. 49 Station Street, Donington. LCNCC 2001.139.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. March 2003. Archaeological watching brief on land at 39 Station Street, Donington. DSS02.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. March 2003. Archaeological watching brief on land at 39 Station Street, Donington. LCNCC 2002.509.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2004. 12 High Street, Donington. DHS03.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2004. 12 High Street, Donington. LCNCC 2003.327.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Mar 2005. Archaeological evaluation on land off Station Road, Donington. SRD05.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Mar 2005. Archaeological evaluation on land off Station Road, Donington. LCNCC 2005.44.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Mar 2005. Watching brief at Dial Hall, Donington. DDH01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Mar 2005. Watching brief at Dial Hall, Donington. LCNCC 2001.254.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2005. Archaeological Evaluation on land to the rear of The Black Bull, Station Road, Donington. DBB05.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2005. Archaeological Evaluation on land to the rear of The Black Bull, Station Road, Donington. LCNCC 2005.87.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2005. Land off Station Road, Donington: Archaeological Watching Brief Report. SRD05.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2005. Land off Station Road, Donington: Archaeological Watching Brief Report. LCNCC 2005.44.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief at Ash Court, Donington. DAC01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief at Ash Court, Donington. LCNCC 2001.3.
  •  Report: Allen Archaeological Associates. 2008. Report of an Archaeological Scheme of Works: Thomas Cowley School, Donington. DTCS08.
  •  Archive: Allen Archaeological Associates. 2008. Report of an Archaeological Scheme of Works: Thomas Cowley School, Donington. LCNCC 2008.18.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2010. Archaeological Evaluation on land at 4 to 12 Church Street, Donington. DOCS10.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2010. Archaeological Evaluation on land at 4 to 12 Church Street, Donington. LCNCC 2010.98.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 2085 3565 (1278m by 725m)
Civil Parish DONINGTON, SOUTH HOLLAND, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Aug 25 2021 8:53AM

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