Monument record MLI53547 - Settlement of North Kelsey

Summary

North Kelsey is first documented in the Domesday Book, and the settlement survives to the present.

Type and Period (5)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

The settlement of North Kelsey is always documented as a very large village from 1086 onwards, and shows very few signs of a marked or persistent decline at any stage. The overall impression of the remains (which were mapped in the 18th and 19th centuries) is of a polyfocal agglomeration. At least two medieval manors are identified (Northall and Easthall, the latter presumed to be at or near Easthall Farm). Much 13th to early 14th century pottery has been found in the area, including Torksey Ware and Lincoln wares. Identified earthworks include possible moats, quarries, tofts and crofts, enclosures and other related features. {1}{2}{3} North Kelsey is listed three times in Domesday Book, where it is referred to as 'Nortchelesei'. It had a minimum population of 50 sokemen and 3 villeins. It had 1 mill. {4} The name Kelsey is probably derieved from an Old English personal name and also Old English meaning 'dry or higher ground in marsh'. {5} The Lay Subsidy of 1334 lists the parish's wealth as £4 12s and 61s 2d, being one of the wealthier parishes in its wapentake. {6} There were 100 households recorded in the Diocesan Returns of 1563. {7} By the late 17th-early 18th century there were 80 families, rising to 93. {8} In 1801 the census lists 489 people in the parish, peaking at 923 in 1871 before falling to 797 by 1901. {9} Remains of at least three phases of 18th-20th century farm buildings were revealed during a watching brief at Church Farm (PRN 53547a - TA 0420 0008). {10}{11} An undated ditch, running north to south, was revealed during a watching brief at The Beeches (PRN 53547b - TA 04150 01505). It was approximately 2m wide and 0.60m deep. Coal from the fill of the feature suggested a possible post medieval date. There was no evidence of archaeologically significant stratigraphy across the remainder of the site, although a small quantity of post medieval material was retrieved during the stripping of topsoil. {12}{13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: P.L. Everson, C.C. Taylor and C.J. Dunn. 1991. Change and Continuity: Rural Settlement in North-West Lincolnshire. Archive notes.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. Lincolnshire National Mapping Programme. LI.484.18-28.1-4.
  •  Aerial Photograph: LUCK, G.. 1993-97. GORDON LUCK COLLECTION. -,1997, .
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 1/68, 12/9, 22/8.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. p.72.
  •  Article in Serial: R.E. Glasscock. 1964. 'The Lay Subsidy of 1334 for Lincolnshire' in Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. vol.10.2, p.127.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Gerald A.J. Hodgett. 1975. Tudor Lincolnshire. p.198.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: R.E.G. Cole. 1913. Speculum Dioeceseos Lincolniensis sub Episcopis Gul: Wake et Edm: Gibson A.D.1705-1723. Part 1: Archdeaconries of Lincoln and Stow. pp.71-2.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. p.337.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2006. Plot 2, Church Farm, South Street, North Kelsey - Archaeological Watching Brief. NKFC06.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2006. Plot 2, Church Farm, South Street, North Kelsey - Archaeological Watching Brief. LCNCC 2006.58.
  •  Report: Marc Berger. Aug 2009. Archaeological Monitoring of Land at The Beeches, North Kelsey, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire. BLNK09.
  •  Archive: Marc Berger. Aug 2009. Archaeological Monitoring of Land at The Beeches, North Kelsey, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TA 0446 0170 (762m by 727m)
Civil Parish NORTH KELSEY, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

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Record last edited

Aug 5 2024 11:26AM

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