Monument record MLI52143 - Settlement of Welton

Summary

Settlement of Welton.

Type and Period (7)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The settlement of Welton is absent from the taxation returns of the High Middle Ages, but is mentioned in the Domesday Book. However it does appear in the 11th century, and post-medieval and modern periods as a large settlement. Its history and morphology is much influenced by the presence of six prebendal manors dating from soon after the Norman Conquest. At Chapel Yard (a site of one of these manors), medieval pottery, and thirteen skeletons, some under slabs and apparently without grave goods, were discovered in 1963 (PRN 52143a - TF 0088 7976). The prebendal manors were West Hall/Goe Hall, Beck Hall, Rivall, Pains Hall and Brink Hall. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5} An evaluation was carried out on the area of ridge and furrow to the south of Sudbeck Lane (TF 0134 7949). There were no archaeological features or finds which suggests that the land was never part of any settlement. {6}{7} Medieval pottery sherds were found during excavations along a pipeline route (PRN 52143b - TF 0065 7965). {8} An outline of a stone built house with 13th century pottery (and 15th to 16th century tiles - see 52204) was revealed (PRN 52143c - TF 008 798). It was thought to have been part of the medieval settlement remains in a field which was 'raised and almost moated, and would appear to have been divided into four crofts', and close to where the Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery was discovered. {9} A sequence of deposits were recorded during monitoring of part of a water mains replacement scheme, adjacent to the church (PRN 52143d - TF 011 797). Undated cobbled layers probably represent precursors to the modern road. A possible occupation surface and a large ditch were also exposed. The ditch appeared to be substantial and this must have been a significant boundary, located close to the centre of the medieval settlement, adjacent to the parish boundary. {9}{10} Two sherds of 13th to 14th century pottery were recovered together with two pieces of medieval tile during a watching brief (PRN 52143e - TF0078 7976). Animal remains were also retrieved; these are not securely dated but may also be of a medieval date. {11}{12} During trial trenching in 1998, three courses of an east to west aligned wall were recorded, dated to the thirteenth to fourteenth century from finds (PRN 52143f - TF0080 7971). The wall is probably connected to Westhall Manor (see also PRN 54787). {13}{14} A concentration of medieval features, including pits, a ditch, and finds was observed in Area I of a watching brief at Heathlinc House (PRN 52143g - TF 0078 7981). It appears that domestic activity in this area intensified from the 12th century onwards. The finds include fallow deer bone which suggests the presence of a high status residence nearby, as this species was hunted almost exclusively by the rich. It is likely that the activity at this site is related to Westhall Manor, the site of which is probably nearby. Post-medieval pottery was also recovered from this site. {15}{16} Medieval and post-medieval features were recorded during a watching brief on land off Vicarage Lane (PRN 52143h - TF 0103 7974). The earliest find was a piece of possible late Saxon pottery although this was heavily abraded and may have arrived at the site during manuring or other later activity. A buried topsoil containing a small amount of medieval pottery was sealed by a demolition layer containing medieval tile fragments. This demolition layer appears to represent the destruction of a medieval building although it is unclear when the demolition took place. The remains of limestone walls were also encountered and these probably belonged to a 19th century barn which is known to have stood on this site. A ditch seen to the east of the limestone building was probably contemporary with it and may have been a farmyard boundary ditch. {17}{18} Features associated with the medieval settlement were encountered during a watching brief near the health centre (PRN 52143i - TF 010 798). These include large Saxo-Norman pits, two 13th-14th century linear ditches - possibly property boundaries and an undated pit/post-hole. They appear to have been backfilled with material incorporating domestic rubbish. {19}{20} Stone foundations, thought to be the remains of former post-medieval boundary walls, were revealed in 2008, during archaeological monitoring of the construction of new housing at Plot 3, The Old Vicarage, Norbeck Lane (PRN 52143j - TF 0106 7959). Their exact date of construction could not be determined, and no walls or structures are depicted in this location on any of the Ordnance Survey maps, suggesting the walls pre-date the late 19th century. {21}{22} Evidence of two phases of medieval occupation was identified during an archaeological evaluation on land adjacent to 1 Sudbeck Lane (PRN 52143k - TF 0117 7964). This includes traces of a stone structure and a timber structure - probably houses but possibly in industrial use. A number of made ground deposits, probably relating to flood defences and the need to level the natural topography, were also identified. Medieval pottery was recovered, mostly of 12th-15th century date but including one residual Saxo-Norman sherd. {23}{24} A watching brief was undertaken in 2012, during the groundworks phase of development at Brookfield House, Church Lane, Welton (PRN 52143l - TF 0125 7974). Although no discrete features were identified during the works, a sequence of archaeological deposits were recorded, including two buried ploughsoil horizons of likely medieval and post-medieval dates. Between the ploughsoil horizons was a concentration of lime accumulation, possibly derived from the spreading of marl to improve agricultural productivity. A sherd of 10th century Lincoln Shelly ware pottery was recovered from the lower, likely medieval, ploughsoil deposit, whilst the later ploughsoil produced one sherd of late 18th to mid 19th century black glazed ware. {25}{26} A buried post-medieval garden soil was identified in 2004, during a watching brief on land adjacent to Norbeck House, Welton (PRN 52143m - TF 0098 7967). The deposit contained a number of unstratified finds, including residual pottery sherds of Roman, Saxon and medieval date, and a small quantity of animal bone. {27}{28}

Sources/Archives (28)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: P.L. Everson, C.C. Taylor and C.J. Dunn. 1991. Change and Continuity: Rural Settlement in North-West Lincolnshire. Archive notes.
  •  Unpublished Document: PARISH FILE. WELTON. Map.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: RUSSELL, R.C. AND RUSSELL, E.. 1987. PARLIAMENTARY ENCLOSURE AND NEW LINCOLNSHIRE LANDSCAPES. pp.201-4.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF0079: LI.547.1.1-2,1994,.
  •  Unpublished Document: A.J. White. PARISH FILE. WELTON. Prebendal Manors Folder.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1994. Sudbeck Lane, Welton: Archaeological Evaluation. WSL94.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1994. Sudbeck Lane, Welton: Archaeological Evaluation. LCNCC 152.94.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1994. Welton-Lincoln Trunkmain: Excavations along the pipeline route. Site D Field 22/23.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Apr 2000. Land off Heath Lane and Lincoln Road, Welton: Welton South Water Mains Replacement Scheme. WWMR99.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1999. Water mains replacement: approx monitored area plotted only. LCNCC 1999.26.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Heathlinc House, Cliff Road, Welton. WNL01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Heathlinc House, Cliff Road Welton. LCNCC 2001.56.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Nov 1998. Land off Norbeck Lane, Welton. NLW98.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Nov 1998. Land off Norbeck Lane, Welton. LCNCC 221.98.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Investigation during construction at Heathlinc House, Cliff Road, Welton. WECR06.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Investigation during construction at Heathlinc House, Cliff Road, Welton. LCNCC 2007.218.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2005. The Manor, Vicarage Lane, Welton: Archaeological Watching Brief. VLW04.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2005. The Manor, Vicarage Lane, Welton: Archaeological Watching Brief. LCNCC 2004.255.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2008. An Archaeological Watching Brief Report: Land adjacent to Welton Health Centre, Cliff Road, Welton. CROW07.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2008. An Archaeological Watching Brief Report: Land adjacent to Welton Health Centre, Cliff Road, Welton. LCNCC 2008.43.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2009. Plot 3, The Old Vicarage, Norbeck Lane, Welton. PCA site code OVWL 08.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2009. Plot 3, The Old Vicarage, Norbeck Lane, Welton. LCNCC 2008.61.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2010. Land Adjacent to 1 Sudbeck Lane, Welton: Archaeological Evaluation Trenching. LASL10.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2010. Land Adjacent to 1 Sudbeck Lane, Welton: Archaeological Evaluation Trenching. LCNCC 2010.38.
  •  Report: Neville Hall. 2012. Brookfield House, Church Lane, Welton. NH site code: BHWE12.
  •  Archive: Neville Hall. 2012. Brookfield House, Church Lane, Welton. LCNCC 2012.63.
  •  Report: Network Archaeology Ltd. 2011. Land Adjacent to Norbeck House, Welton. NET site code: NHW04.
  •  Archive: Network Archaeology Ltd. 2011. Land Adjacent to Norbeck House, Welton. LCNCC 2004.113.

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Grid reference Centred TF 0112 7957 (864m by 863m)
Civil Parish WELTON, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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