Monument record MLI60492 - Deserted medieval settlement of Silkby

Summary

The settlement of Silkby is first mentioned in documentary sources in the late 12th century. It was later amalgamated with Willoughby to become part of the village of Silk Willoughby.

Type and Period (5)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 60492 Silkby is not mentioned in the Domesday book. {1} The name Silkby contains Old Norse and Old Danish elements and means "Silki's farmstead, village". It is first mentioned in documentary sources in the late 12th century. {2} Silkby is mentioned, with Willoughby, in the Lay Subsidy of 1334 and its wealth is included with Willoughby rather than being separately listed. {3} Silkby appears to have been amalgamated with Willoughby as Silk Willoughby by the late 15th century at least. At this point, if not earlier, the settlement focus moved to the east (the location of the current village) leaving the former site of Silkby deserted. However, desertion may have begun earlier than this, and the reasons and date of Silkby' desertion remain unclear. The site of the demolished 16th century manor house (PRN 65125) appears to have been the site of the earlier manor of Silkby. {7} Earthwork settlement remains including a hollow way, ridge and furrow, an enclosure and possible building platforms are visible on aerial photographs, and a survey of the earthworks has been carried out. {4}{7}{8}{9}{10} Spreads of possible building stone have also been seen in the area of the earthworks. {5}{8} Medieval pottery including green glazed ware, Bourne ware and Stamford ware has been seen in the small field next to the A15 (approximately at TF 0476 4314), in the same area as the concentration of early Anglo-Saxon pottery (PRN 60490). Medieval coins have also been found in the Silkby area. {8} A surprisingly small amount of medieval pottery was found in this area during fieldwalking. {11}

Sources/Archives (11)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. lxv, lxxiv.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. p 140.
  •  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.123.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF 04 SW; TF0443: LI.850.7.1-3.
  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Silk Willoughby O.S. cards. SILK WILLOUGHBY. TF 04 SW: 3.
  •  Index: Silk Willoughby SMR cards. SILK WILLOUGHBY. TF 04 SW: L.
  •  Unpublished Document: R.H. Healey and D.R. Roffe. Some Medieval and Later Earthworks in South Lincolnshire. pp 25-26, fig 9.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1994. Archaeological Watching Brief: Rauceby to Silk Willoughby Water Pipeline. SIL93.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. ACM 50; EA 038.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1946-98. RCHME. TF 0443/4; TF 0543/2.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: SIMMONS, B.B.. 2000. The Archaeology of Silk Willoughby: An Account of the Field Survey 1994-1999. pp 47-8.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 0485 4310 (598m by 535m)
Civil Parish SILK WILLOUGHBY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (5)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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