Monument record MLI83004 - Medieval grange of Sempringham Priory at Maiden House Farm, Fulbeck Heath
Summary
Medieval grange of Sempringham Priory at Maiden House Farm, Fulbeck Heath
Type and Period (8)
- PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- BARN ? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FLOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- STABLE ? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WELL (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
- WALL (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
- GRANGE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
PRN 35667
(This record includes information from record 30237 which has now been deleted).
Maiden House Farm is the site of an important grange of Sempringham Priory, which had 920 acres of land, mostly sheep pasture. Ruins were marked on Armstrong's map of 1779. Earthworks and considerable quantities of pottery and stone were dug up in the early nineteenth century. {1}{6}{7}
Trial trenching revealed a medieval pit, containing three sherds of pottery, which was originally identified during a geophysical survey. Three courses of a roughly hewn limestone wall, and a possible floor surface representing the remains of a medieval building were identified and recorded. Four sherds of 13th to 14th century pottery, animal bone and eight iron nails were recovered from this floor area. The nails are thought to be from horseshoes, although unusually no horseshoes were recovered, this may be suggestive that the building functioned as a stable. Part of a decorative crest from a Bourne type ridge tile was found. Other glazed probable ridge tiles that were not of the Bourne type were also recovered, these glazed tiles are usually associated with higher status buildings of the medieval period. Other finds from the site indicate a pivot section of a balance arm, animal remains and pottery sherds. Dateable evidence seems to indicate that the site ceased to be used after the 15th century. {2}{3}
An intensive archaeological watching brief was undertaken during commercial development on land at Hurlingham Business Park, Fulbeck Heath. The watching brief identified three possible stone built buildings, one of which had been previously identified as a stable. The other two, previously unrecorded, buildings were too fragmentary to define clearly and their function is unclear; based on other grange sites they are likely to represent barns. A stone-lined well was also revealed as were two stone quarry pits. Finds retrieved from the well included pottery, tile, animal bone, an iron nail and an iron arrowhead, all dated to the 13th to 14th century. {4}{5}
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SLI3025 Index: SMR FILE. FULBECK. SK 95 SE:X,1980, WHITE, A.J..
- <2> SLI7868 Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Hurlingham Business Park. FHH02.
- <3> SLI7869 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Hurlingham Business Park, Fulbeck. LCNCC:2002.217.
- <4> SLI8997 Report: Archaeological Project Services. July 2003. Archaeological watching brief at Hurlingham Business Park, Fulbeck Heath. FHH03.
- <5> SLI8998 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. July 2003. Archaeological watching brief at Hurlingham Business Park, Fulbeck Heath. LCNCC 2002.217.
- <6> SLI3548 Map: Captain Andrew Armstrong. 1779. Armstrong Map of Lincolnshire. -.
- <7> SLI438 Article in Serial: 1812. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. -.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 9837 5013 (212m by 165m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | FULBECK, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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