Monument record MLI81021 - Settlement of Washingborough

Summary

Settlement of Washingborough dates from the early medieval period, and became very important during the medieval period. It survives to the present.

Type and Period (7)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Modern - 850 AD? to 2050 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Post Medieval - 410 AD to 1600 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 700 AD to 1199 AD)
  • (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 1999 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

61274 Washingborough dates from the late Anglo-Saxon period, and probably earlier. The name has been translated in two ways. Cameron suggests that it means 'the fortified place of the Wassingas', 'Wassingas' meaning 'the family, the dependents of Wassa', 'Wassa' being a personal name. Ekwall suggests that the 'Wash' part of the name comes from the Old English meaning 'wash, the washing of the waves upon the shore, surging movement of the sea or other water'. {1}{2} Washingborough appears to have been an important medieval settlement. Before the Conquest it seems to have been held by Siward, the Earl of Northumbria, and through him also by his wife, Godiva. Ralf the Staller also held land in Washingborough for Siward. {3} After the Conquest although part of the land was held by Countess Judith, control was held by the King, which could be due to the importance of the estate in its own right, and also may be because of its strategic importance for the control of Lincoln. Washingborough itself is not included in the Domesday Book, which may just be a straightforward omission, or, again, could be due to the importance of the estate. There was a manor and sokeland belonging to Washingborough in Coleby. {3}{4}{5} Washingborough then came into the Honour of Richmond sometime between 1093 and 1136 (the Honour of Richmond was founded by Count Alan of Brittany before his death in 1093 {6}). The estate appears to have been developed in the twelfth century and a park was established by 1182. The manor may have been located on the site of Washingborough Hall, south of the church. The land appears to have been kept under royal control during the twelfth and early thirteenth century because of the dynastic difficulties of the Honour of Richmond. {3}{5} Another reason for the importance of the settlement at Washingborough may have been its watermills: at least one mill is recorded in Washingborough, belonging to William Son of Fulk. {5} The physical evidence for the medieval settlement at Washingborough is sparse. Ridge and furrow is visible on an aerial photograph in the field south of the Meadows Lodge. A quarry in Washingborough was granted to Kirkstead Abbey between 1159 and 1171. Several quarries are recorded on the 1906 County Series maps, which are referred to as being 'old' (61209, 61320, 61314, 61315). A sherd of fourteenth century green-glazed ware and a sherd of thirteenth century brown-glazed ware were found on land near the school at TF 0218 7058. Also at this location a yellow crystal bead (LCNCC 17.75, possibly Anglo-Saxon) was found with medieval tile and further pottery. A sixteenth century Nuremburg token was found by the west door of the church in 1975. {7}{8}{12}{13} By the early eighteenth century there were around 90 families living in Washingborough. {9} The population in 1856 was 597. It was enclosed in 1834. It had a blacksmith where 'The Farriers' is now (1992), and there was a village pump which was used until piped water was introduced in the 1930s. There is a gaslight dated 1902 at the village green. {10}{11} A pit which contained 8th to 12th century pottery was found in Trench 1 and a linear terminus which contained late 18th to 20th pantile and a 19th to 20th century cup was revealed in Trench 4 during trial trenching on land off 81 Main Road, (PRN61274a). {14}{15}

Sources/Archives (15)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. page 135.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Ekwall, E.. 1960. Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names - Fourth Edition. pages 491, 500.
  •  Article in Serial: Johnson, C.P.C.. 1991. 'Washingborough and the Honour of Richmond' in Lincolnshire Past and Present. Summer 1991, No 4, pp.2-3.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 1/7,8.
  •  Article in Serial: Roffe, D.. 1993. 'Lady Godiva, The Book, and Washingborough' in Lincolnshire Past and Present. Summer 1993, No 12, pp.9-10.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Hart, C.. 1992. The Danelaw. page 195.
  •  Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF Aerial Photograph. 5434.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Clay, C.T.. 1914-62. Early Yorkshire Charters: The Honour of Richmond. Volume IV. page 57.
  •  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 White. 1856. History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Second Edition. page 367.
  •  Unpublished Document: Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. 1992. Washingborough guided walk leaflet. -.
  •  Index: SMR FILE. WASHINGBOROUGH. TF 07 SW:AX;AY.
  •  Artefact: 1975. CITY AND COUNTY MUSEUM COLLECTION 1975. LCNCC 17.75.
  •  Report: Allen Archaeological Associates. 2011. Trial trenching on land off 81 Main Road, Washingborough. WAMR11.
  •  Archive: Allen Archaeological Associates. 2011. Trial trenching on land off 81 Main Road, Washingborough. LCNCC: 2011.348.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 018 705 (1036m by 552m)
Civil Parish WASHINGBOROUGH, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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