Monument record MLI43584 - Medieval - post medieval salt workings, north of St Michaels Lane

Summary

Medieval - post medieval salt workings, north of St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary.

Type and Period (8)

  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1699 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1699 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1699 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1699 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1699 AD)
  • (Unknown date)
  • (lagoon, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1824 AD?)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

PRN 43584 Parallel banks a little south of Wainfleet, averaging about 60 paces long, 6 feet high and 6 paces wide. The Ordnance Survey 1 inch map of 1824 shows similar earthworks extending nearly 4 miles to the south-west, known as Wainfleet Tofts, Friskney Tofts etc, all the mounds in this series reveal some evidence of burning. {1} An extensive area of salt workings. There is a heavy scatter of burnt earth on all the mounds and slight evidence of probably contemporary desertion adjacent. The major portion of the area (south-west of the extant remains) has been levelled for farming and ribbon development. This is probably the largest surviving group of medieval workings in the country and gives an important sidelight of the drainage of the fens. {2} Excavations in 1984 identified many of the individual components of the particular methodology which was in use, and demonstrated the uniformity of these features and the relationship between their systematic arrangement and natural coastal development. The filtration units were laid out in precise parallel lines 10 metres apart. Ninety-three leather parts were recovered from the site. The leather, identified as shoe components, is heavily worn and has been repaired often. No waste was found but the presence of components with areas deliberately cut away to salvage reusable leather suggests cobbling debris. Lead offcuts were found and these were probably used in the manufacture and repair of the lead boiling pans. Hearths were also recorded. {7} During trial trenching at TF 4978 5773 four filtration units were identified, these appear to correspond with mounds shown on the 1905 Ordnance Survey map. One of the filtration units contained 13th to 14th century pottery sherds. A midden was also identified from which lead pieces were recovered. These lead pieces are thought to have been used for repairing the lead boiling tanks used in the salt-making process. Other artefacts recovered from the midden include an iron nail, an iron ring, brick fragments, 15th to 17th century pottery sherds (Toynton and Bolingbroke wares), and animal remains including a jawbone sledge runner. The sledge runner is normally associated with children and may indicate settlement in the vicinity. {8}{9} A total of twenty-one filtration units were recorded during the excavations at TF 4978 5773. Twenty of these units were all aligned in east-west rows and arranged so that there are vats or filterbeds lying together. Eighteen of the filtration units lay approximately 10 metres apart. The filtration units consist of rectangular filterbeds joined to a circular vat by a short pipe. The collecting vats were circular with a diameter of approximately one metre. They had vertical sides and a domed roof. The roofs where present gave an overall depth of 1.2 metres. The midden that was originally recorded during trial trenching was identified again. This was found to lie at the edge of a lagoon. Analysis of some of the ten waste mounds identified confirmed that the silt that was used during processing derived from a lagoon, that is now proven to have been here. The lagoon fed directly into the filtration units negating the need for a complicated system of sluices and inlets. The midden yielded large quantities of animal and fish bones, edible molluscs, charcoal, coal and small amounts of pottery. No structures were found but brick fragments were also recovered. This evidence of domestic debris suggests at least a small scale settlement was present. Excavation underneath one of the collecting vats revealed cattle and pig bones and a partial skeleton of a chicken. This indicates intentional dumping into a structure when it was no longer serviceable. Two partial skeletons of piglets, both under twelve months old, were recorded underneath a filtration unit. An oval area of burnt silt and quantities of charcoal were observed and this has been identified as a hearth. Peat-charcoal found on site indicates that this was the most likely fuel used in the boiling process. Coal was also recovered and this may have been used both domestically and for industrial purposes. The saltern dates appear to be 15th to 16th century as the majority of the dateable evidence indicates this. Thirteenth century sherds were also recovered and this could suggest a phase of previous activity. As in the 1984 excavations a single sherd of Roeren-type drinking jug was recovered. {10}{11} During trial trenching in 1999 centred on TF 4992 5779, the remains of a filtration unit were recorded, consisting of the filter bed, possible remains of the filtration tank box, the turf block layer, the filtration unit pipe and the collecting vat. Although devoid of finds, the remains were sealed by a subsoil containing finds which suggest use and cessation of industry in the sixteenth century. No positive evidence of a waste mound was identified; this apparent absence of redeposited material may mean the saltern was isolated (the last of many) or that it did not conform to previous interpretations.{12}{13} During a watching brief to the south of St Michael's Lane (approx TF 4976 5766), an undated dumped deposit containing burnt material was encountered. This deposit is thought to relate to nearby salt-making activities, although it could also be general waste. However, the extent of the deposit was too small to allow any further interpretation. {14}{15}

Sources/Archives (15)

  •  Index: OS CARD INDEX. WAINFLEET ST MARY. TF 45 NE:10,1965, BAIRD J.
  •  Scheduling Record: HBMC. 1976. AM 7. SAM 320.
  •  Article in Serial: C.W. Phillips. 1935. 'The Present State of Archaeology in Lincolnshire: Part 2' in the Archaeological Journal. VOL91, P128.
  •  Aerial Photograph: J.K.S. St Joseph. 1945-79. Cambridge University Collection. EW57-60,1950, .
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. LH26-29,1953, .
  •  Aerial Photograph: Paul Everson. 1975-90. RCHM. 2938/2,1980, .
  •  Article in Serial: MCAVOY F. 1994. MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY. PP 134-163.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1998. Land North of St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. MLW 98.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1998. Land North of St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. LCNCC:210.98.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1999. Land North of St Michaels Lane Wainfleet St Mary. MLW 98.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1999. Land North of St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. LCNCC:210.98.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. April 1999. Land north of Groose Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. GLM99.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. April 1999. Land north of Groose Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. LCNCC 66.99.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Watching Brief at St Michael's Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. WSML05.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Watching Brief at St Michael's Lane, Wainfleet St Mary. LCNCC 2005.186.

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Grid reference Centred TF 4962 5750 (936m by 855m)
Civil Parish WAINFLEET ST MARY, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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