Monument record MLI50530 - Bleasby Deserted Medieval Village

Summary

Earthworks of the deserted medieval village of Bleasby.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Bleasby is first documented in the Domesday Book with a minimum population of 10. It had 7 households in 1563, and the Tithe Award map of 1846 shows 3 dwellings. {1}{2}{3}{4} An earthwork survey conducted at TF 1340 8454 seems to indicate that the features in this area, thought to represent medieval settlement remains, are actually natural surface undulations. {12} The settlement of Bleasby was established before the late 11th century, when the Domesday Book records two manors at Bleasby, and a population of ten. By the late 13th century, the Bleasby family (named after the village), held both manors, and by the mid 14th century they were also tenants of monastic holdings there. By 1563 the village population had declined to only seven households. The Bleasby family themselves continued in residence until the end of the 16th century, although the manor house remained in use until the mid 17th century. By 1846, only three dwellings remained in the village, forming part of the farm located to the south-west of the manor. These buildings were finally abandoned c.1850, when the present Bleasby House was constructed to the north of the medieval manor. The following description of the remains which are apparent on the site is included in the scheduling. The village itself was laid out along a low ridge running roughly north to south, with the moated site located at the highest part of the site (see PRN 54210). The northern part of the enclosure contains earth-covered building remains thought to be the manor house of the Bleasby family. A raised rectangular enclosure south of the moated site also forms part of the manorial complex, and is crossed by a later hollow way representing the route of a post-medieval road. Further ditched enclosures associated with the manor extend south and east towards the stream. Next to the south-west of the manorial complex are more raised enclosures, representing a post-medieval farm which remained in use until the mid 19th century. Adjacent to both the manor and the farm is a series of house plots, and further raised enclosures can be found in the western part of the monument, partially overlying earlier ridge and furrow remains. A hollow way extending roughly east to west between these enclosures represents a medieval road, in use until the early 19th century. A further area of earthworks can be found to the north of Bleasby House, including a series of enclosures along a north to south aligned hollow way, which would have linked with hollow ways in the southern part of the village. The northern part of the settlement may have originated as the focus of the second manor mentioned in the Domesday Book, possibly replanned when the later manorial complex was established. Extending east and west from these enclosures are ridge and furrow remains. [Please note that the scheduling only applies to part of this site. The scheduling includes part of the buried and earthwork remains of Bleasby medieval village, in two separate areas of protection to the north and south of Bleasby House. All fences and gates are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.] {13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 18 SW: 1.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: P.L. Everson, C.C. Taylor and C.J. Dunn. 1991. Change and Continuity: Rural Settlement in North-West Lincolnshire. pp.119-21, figs.27, 87-8.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 18 SW: A.
  •  Aerial Photograph: J.K.S. St Joseph. 1945-79. Cambridge University Collection. LH 85-7, 1953.
  •  Aerial Photograph: J.K.S. St Joseph. 1945-79. Cambridge University Collection. AFP 71, 1962.
  •  Aerial Photograph: Hunting Surveys Ltd. 1971-2. Hunting Surveys Aerial Photography. UK 71.207; RUN 13 3701-2.
  •  Aerial Photograph: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1945-79. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. UZ 76-79; AFP 70, 72.
  •  Aerial Photograph: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1945-79. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. AHD 16-18; AKN 106-110.
  •  Aerial Photograph: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1945-79. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. AQG 35-40; RC8 AI 158-160.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF1385: LI.1.1.1-9, 1994.
  •  Aerial Photograph: COLE, C.. 1993-2002. InnerVisions Business Presentations. Ref: 258/1198/25 (29/11/98).
  •  Report: Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology. 1990. PETROFINA PIPELINE. HB 08-02.
  •  Scheduling Record: English Heritage. 2000. Bleasby medieval village. SAM 22765.

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1305 8481 (887m by 975m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish LEGSBY, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Please contact the HER for details.

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.