Monument record MLI60811 - Settlement of Potterhanworth

Summary

The settlement of Potterhanworth probably has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period, and is first documented in the Domesday Book. It survives to the present.

Type and Period (15)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Modern - 1000 AD? to 2050 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1300 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1201 AD to 1399 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1450 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1300 AD to 1550 AD)
  • (Post Medieval - 1600 AD to 1799 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1300 AD to 1550 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Hanworth is first documented in the Domesday Book, and was known at that time as 'Hanworde', meaning 'Hana's enclosure' derived from Old English. It is first referred to as Potter Hanworth in 1327, and again in 1334 in the Bishop Burwash Register, because of its pottery industry which thrived in the 13th and 14th centuries (see PRN 61757). {1}{2}{3} Three manors are recorded in the Domesday Book as belonging to Walter de Aincourt, and a church and a priest are also mentioned. The minimum population at that time was about 45. {4} Medieval shelly ware pottery has been found from all over the village, mostly through the efforts of villagers in June 1978 (again, see PRN 61757 for locations of known waster dumps). The locations include The Chapel, Barff Road (at TF 0559 6616 - SMR card AQ), Main Road (at TF 0552 6612 - AP, LM 185.78, 168.79), the grounds of the Rectory (at TF 0535 6570 - AO), the grounds of a new house in 1975, (at TF 0555 6615 - AN), a new housing development in 1973 (at TF 0557 6615 - S), and several further locations along Barff Road (at TF 0566 6613 (AW), TF 0573 6613 (AV), TF 0555 6614 (AU), TF 0557 6614 (AT), TF 0557 6619 (AR), all accessioned in LM 168.79). Pottery was also recovered from a drainage trench behind the primary school (TF 0554 6619 - AR, LM 154.78). Further pottery has been recorded from TF 0542 6597 (1973) (NK49.26). In the 19th century some pottery was found in the churchyard. {2}{5}{13}{14}{26} During a watching brief at Barff Road a wall dating from the 13th to 14th century was recorded. After the wall fell into disrepair the area was used for the dumping of waste. This includes a large amount of pottery, the quantity and types of which suggest the presence nearby of a pottery kiln. This supported by the recovery of a kiln stand. {6}{7} In 1563 there were 45 households recorded in Potter Hanworth. {8} In 1706 - 1718 there were 60 families recorded in Potter Hanworth, and by 1721 there were 54 families. Enclosure occurred in 1776. {9}{2} By 1801 the population was 303 and grew to 480 in 1901. {10} Some ridge and furrow earthwork remains are visible on aerial photographs, and some post medieval garden features have also been noted (see 61762 and 61763). {11}{12} An area of cropmarks at TF 056 660 has been noted from aerial photographs, which may be part of the medieval settlement remains. {26} 'At Potter Hanworth great quantities of Roman pot of different kinds were found at the site of the Parish School House when foundations were laid.' The pottery referred to may be medieval. The church school was built c.1850 at TF 055 662. {15}{16}{17} During trial trenching at TF 0554 6622 ditches and walls of medieval date were recorded. These are thought to relate to the formation and maintenance of the boundary. The juxtapositions of postholes were either immediately above or beneath successive ditches. This is suggestive of fence posts or other boundary structures or perhaps buildings. Thirty-three sherds of pottery were recovered, of these twenty-six were of the Potterhanworth type, although this assemblage is not enough to prove pottery production here some of the pottery did appear to be waste and this could indicate a kiln in the vicinity. {18}{19} A watching brief at TF 0583 6610 revealed a series of medieval pits. The largest of these pits was situated on the south-west side of the site. It is probable that this pit was used for clay extraction. Potterhanworth pottery of a 13-14th century date, including wasters and near complete vessels were recovered from this extraction pit. The other pits recorded are thought to have been used for refuse, but one other may have also been for clay extraction. An assemblage of 251 sherds were recovered from across the site. Of these 178 show no signs of use or wear and are likely to be wasters. The type of sherds show an unusually high amount of jug fragments. This may be an indicator of jug production in close proximity to this site during the 13-14th centuries. Kiln furniture was also recovered and this may also be an indicator of pottery production in the vicinity. The watching brief also recorded several undated pits and three boundary ditches or drainage channels. Although these features are essentially undated they have been given a tentative post medieval date. {20}{21} Excavations undertaken at Potterhanworth Primary School (TF 0554 6622) revealed a series of postholes, one of which was found with a fragment of quern-stone which was reused as a post pad. Pottery found in these features date them to the mid to late 13th century. It has been suggested that these features form a boundary, perhaps for fencing. An informal yard surface was identified which contained large quantities of pottery dating to the mid 13th to 14th centuries. Animal remains also found may indicate that the area was used to dump refuse. An enormous pit that is thought to possibly be approximately 12m wide and more than 15m long and 1.6m deep was recorded. This pit is thought to have been used for clay extraction. Although no certain date has been attributed to it, it is thought to be medieval, serving the local pottery industry. Three gullies and a wall thought to represent four episodes of boundary definition. They are situated away from and parallel to the edge of the clay pit. The clay pit would have quickly filled with water and was then probably used as a pond. The boundaries are likely to have served the purpose of preventing children and animal getting too close to the quarry pit/pond. The pond eventually being filled in at the end of the 19th century. {22}{23} An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in advance of residential development at Church Farm, Church Lane, Potterhanworth. The evaluation was requested prior to determination of the application, and comprised eight 10m by 1.8m trenches. All trenches showed evidence of levelling activity that had occurred prior to the construction of the present farmyard surface and associated buildings. The excavation identified a number of undated, Medieval and Post-medieval features. In Trench 2 a number of undated post-holes and pits were found, one of which contained a pig burial. The only datable feature in Trench 2 was a small stone-lined well containing late 17th to 18th century. A number of medieval pits were found in Trench 2 and 3, containing sherds of pottery and tile dating to the 13th to 15th century. The footings of a substantial building was found in Trench 4, oriented north to south with a width of 6.5m. Its length was not revealed within the evaluation trench, although the lack of similar features in Trench 5 to the south suggests the building is less than 12m long. The walls consist of roughly hewn limestone blocks with an average size of 0.23 by 0.20 by 0.05m set in a soft creamy grey limestone mortar. They were eight course high, with the lowest course being constructed of much larger rectangular blocks which created a stepped footing on the outside face of the wall. The building recorded in Trench 4 does not appear on the Ordnance Survey map of 1887 (OS 1888), the Potterhanworth Tithe Award of 1849 or the Enclosure Plan of Potterhanworth dating to 1775. Although no dating evidence was retrieved from the building itself, it is likely to be connected to a limestone surface in Trench 8 which was dated to the 14th to mid 16th century. This is supported by dating evidence from the demolition layers associated with the walls in Trench 4 which included medieval tile and post-medieval material. Trench 6 produced a number of undated pits, layers and east to west and north to south aligned ditches {24}{25} During a watching brief on land adjacent to 'Tally Ho' off Barff Road (TF 0569 6608) an undated well shaft was identified. No finds were retrieved from the fill. {27}{28} A watching brief at Red House Farm (TF 05424 66299) revealed cornbrash wall with a similar alignment to the Main Road, probably a post-medieval property boundary. 18th and 19th century pottery and tile was recovered from a subsoil along with a piece of 13th-14th century Potterhanworth ware. {29}{30}

Sources/Archives (30)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. p.59.
  •  Article in Serial: Norgate, K. and Footman, M.H.. 1901-1902. Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. vol.XXVI, pp.369-93.
  •  Article in Serial: MARJORAM, J.. 1974. 'Archaeological notes, 1973' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.9, pp.30-1.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 31/17; 72/17.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 06 NE: AN-AW.
  •  Report: ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT SERVICES. 1998. LAND AT BARFF ROAD. PBR97.
  •  Archive: ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT SERVICES. 1998. LAND AT BARFF ROAD. LCNCC 249.97.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Gerald A.J. Hodgett. 1975. Tudor Lincolnshire. p.190.
  •  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. -.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. p.363.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. NQ74-76.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF0565: LI.896.10.1.
  •  Artefact: City and County Museum Collection. LM 185.78.
  •  Artefact: City and County Museum Collection. LM 168.79.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Rev. Edward Trollope. 1872. Sleaford and the Wapentakes of Flaxwell and Aswardhurn in the County of Lincoln. p.417.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 06 NE: O.
  •  Unpublished Document: Information about pottery and coins from school. Potterhanworth parish file.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2001. Potterhanworth Primary School. POTT 01.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2001. Potterhanworth Primary School. LCNCC:2001.413.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Church Farm, Barff Road, Potterhanworth.. PBRA 99.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Church Farm, Barff Road, Potterhanworth. LCNCC:303.99.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Potterhanworth Primary School. POTT 02.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Potterhanworth Primary School. LCNCC:2002.168.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. June 2004. Archaeological Evaluation at Church Farm, Church Lane, Potterhanworth. PCF04.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. June 2004. Archaeological Evaluation at Church Farm, Church Lane, Potterhanworth. LCNCC 2004.127.
  •  Index: North Kesteven Records. Potterhanworth. NK49.3,23,24,26,28,29,30,25.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2006. Barff Road, Potterhanworth: Archaeological Watching Brief Report. BDM98.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2006. Barff Road, Potterhanworth: Archaeological Watching Brief. LCNCC 2006.156.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Watching Brief on land at Red House Farm, Main Road, Potterhanworth. PRH04.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Watching Brief on land at Red House Farm, Main Road, Potterhanworth. LCNCC 2004.112.

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Grid reference Centred TF 0541 6593 (651m by 877m)
Civil Parish POTTERHANWORTH, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Feb 15 2023 10:22AM

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