Monument record MLI35064 - Late Saxon to 12th Century Agricultural Settlement and Iron Smithy, Baston

Summary

Late Saxon to 12th Century Agricultural Settlement and Iron Smithy, Baston

Type and Period (2)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 850 AD to 1150 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 850 AD to 1150 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

A settlement appears to have been established in the area of Hall Farm in the Late Saxon period around the 9th century at which point the area was divided into east-west strips by a number of ditches. Although the occupation areas of this settlement are not clearly identified they seem to have been located at the northern and eastern limits of the investigation site where there was some evidence of timber buildings and rubbish and cess pits. In the south-western part of the excavation area was a Late Saxon industrial zone, represented by an iron smithy and a second iron-working furnace. Nearby was a possible barn. Settlement continued into the 12th century at which point the site was ploughed over whereas it appears to have largely pastoral beforehand. {1}{2}{3} A synthesis of work on this site revealed that the site was probably occupied in the late Saxon period, divided up into fields and crofts bounded by ditches and gullies, mostly on east/west and north/south alignments, at some time in the late ninth century. In the north of the site plots were also delineated by a line of cess and refuse pits which probably ran along the back boundary of a croft or crofts. The pits contained large quantities of waterlogged roundwood, rush seeds, aquatic invertebrate remains and animal bone. The animal bone included pig and deer, suggesting woodland nearby, although no woodland is mentioned in Domesday. An almost complete late ninth to mid-tenth century pottery vessel was found on its side in a pit at the southern edge of the site - the function of the vessel was not clear. Just to the east of this pit was an area of indeterminate structural remains represented by postholes and hearths. Structural remains were also noted in the south-western and south-eastern corners of the site as well as in the northern part. A rectangular arrangement of postholes represented a timber structure with an internal division, thought to be a barn or stables.{4} The south-western part of the site was an area of industrial activity. A sub-rectangular feature with a bowl-shaped depression set into it contained multiple burnt ashy layers, charcoal, ash, hammerscale and large quantities of ironworking slag, smithing hearth bottom and vitrified hearth lining and was identified as a furnace. A neighbouring pit also contained hearth lining, slag and flake hammerscale, alongside mortar, animal bone and pottery. A second ironworking hearth/furnace was found close by. These remains were thought to represent an iron smithy for the secondary production of tools and utensils. The artefacts found suggest the smith was a general smith or cutler, making and repairing a range of domestic and agricultural tools and utensils. A horseshoe suggests the smith was also a farrier. {4} A geophysical survey in November 2011 {6}{7} to the immediate south of the above recorded a continuation of the features, which was confirmed during trial trenching {8}{9} in September 2012 and open excavation in 2014 {10}{11}. In addition to a continuation of the known field system, pits for possible grain processing were recorded, along with further hammerscale and slag. Finds included 12th century pottery, a doughnut shaped loomweight, a brooch, and a quernstone. Environmental evidence for charred wheat was noted.

Sources/Archives (11)

  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 1997. Archaeological Excavation on Land Adjacent to Hall Farm, Baston. BHF93.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 1997. Archaeological Excavation on Land Adjacent to Hall Farm, Baston. LCNCC 1994.22.
  •  Report: Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. 1992. Archaeological Evaluation at Baston Hall Farm. BAH91.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2003. Hall Farm, Baston, Lincolnshire: Investigation of a Late Saxon Village and Medieval Manorial Complex.
  •  Article in Serial: Taylor, G.. 2003. Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. Vol 38, pp.5-33.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2011. Land at Chesham Drive, Baston, Geophysical Survey. APS Site Code BACD11.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2011. Land at Chesham Drive, Baston, Geophysical Survey. LCNCC 2011.427.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2012. Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Chesham Drive, Baston, Lincolnshire. APS Site Code BACD12.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2012. Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Chesham Drive, Baston, Lincolnshire. LCNCC 2012.101.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2016. Archaeological Excavation on Land at Chesham Drive, Baston, Lincolnshire. APS Site Code BACD13.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2016. Archaeological Excavation on Land at Chesham Drive, Baston, Lincolnshire. LCNCC 2014.13.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1144 1379 (176m by 246m) Estimated From Sources
Civil Parish BASTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (6)

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Record last edited

Mar 5 2025 1:14PM

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