Monument record MLI43163 - OLD SPILSBY DESERTED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE

Summary

OLD SPILSBY DESERTED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

EARTHWORKS OF A DESERTED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE IN SPILSBY PARISH. THE EXTENDED AREA OF UNIMPROVED PASTURE HAS BECOME A RARE SURVIVAL IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE. IT PRESERVES A COMPLETE LANDSCAPE WITH THE SETTLEMENT CLOSES APPROACHED BY A BROAD HOLLOW WAY FROM THE PLANNED MARKET TOWN OF SPILSBY TO THE SOUTH AND SURROUNDED BY RIDGE AND FURROW ON ALL SIDES EXCEPT AGAINST THE RIVER AND PARISH BOUNDARY TO THE LEFT (NORTH). THE HEDGE LINES OF A PRIVATE RATHER THAN PARLIAMENTARY ENCLOSURE OVERLIE THE EARTHWORKS, TO A LARGE EXTENT FOLLOWING THE EDGES OF EARLIER FEATURES. THE SITE WAS COMPLETELY DESERTED AT LEAST BY 1771, WHEN THE FIELD-NAME 'GREAT QUARMS' GAVE NO INDICATION OF THE SETTLEMENT'S IDENTITY. {1}{2} THERE ARE REFERENCES IN THE DOMESDAY BOOK TO A MANOR OF THE BISHOP OF DURHAM, WHICH HELD 1 TEAM, 5 VILLEINS, 5 SOKEMEN AND 1 BORDAR, 2 MILLS RENDERING 9 SHILLINGS AND 12 ACRES OF MEADOW. ALSO 4 ACRES OF LAND IN HUNDLEBY BELONGED TO THE MANOR OF THE BISHOP OF DURHAM IN SPLISBY. {3} FOR MORE DETAIL SEE THE SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 22715. {5} A MEASURED SURVEY OF THE EARTHWORK REMAINS SURROUNDING THE DMV WAS CARRIED OUT IN ADVANCE OF DRAINAGE AND PLOUGHING. AT LEAST THREE PHASES OF ACTIVITY WERE IDENTIFIED. THE EARLIEST OF THESE WERE THE VILLAGE REMAINS WITH ASSOCIATED RIDGE AND FURROW AND FIELD BOUNDARIES. PART OF THE OPEN FIELDS IN THE NE CORNER OF THE SURVEY AREA WERE CONVERTED INTO ENCLOSURES, PRESUMABLY FOR GRAZING STOCK. THESE HAD ALREADY FALLEN OUT OF USE BY 1771 WHEN A SURVEY OF THE PARISH DID NOT SHOW THESE ENCLOSURES BUT RECORDED OTHER FIELD BOUNDARIES WHICH EXISTED SUBSTANTIALLY UNCHANGED TILL THE PRESENT DAY. {7} Trial trenching in 2000 identified ridge and furrow, a hollow way and an associated boundary ditch in two of three trenches in an area under consideration for descheduling. The third trench, in the field to the north, indicated that any archaeological remains had been completely removed by subsequent landscaping. The ridge and furrow was not well preserved and no evidence of any earlier archaeological remains was found. {9} {10}

Sources/Archives (10)

  •  Aerial Photograph: Paul Everson. 1975-90. RCHM. 2948-20-22,1980, .
  •  Article in Monograph: Paul Everson and Tom Hayes. 1984. 'Lincolnshire from the Air' in A Prospect of Lincolnshire. P 39.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. VOL 19 P 33 AND 87.
  •  Scheduling Record: ENGLISH HERITAGE. 1995. SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 22715. MPP 22.
  •  Aerial Photograph: LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. 1995. LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING 1:25000 VERTICAL AP SURVEY. -.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF4067:LI.175.1.1-9,1993, .
  •  Report: LINDSEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 1996. SPILSBY: MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AND CULTIVATION. SEW96.
  •  Archive: LINDSEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 1996. SPILSBY: MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AND CULTIVATION. LCNCC 17.96.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. July 2000. Report on evaluation at Spilsby deserted medieval village.. SMV00.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. July 2000. Archive of evaluation at Spilsby deserted medieval village.. LCNCC 2000.42.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 4063 6722 (506m by 565m) Estimated from Sources
Civil Parish SPILSBY, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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