Monument record MLI87729 - Medieval settlement record for Louth

Summary

Medieval settlement record for Louth, Louth has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period and survives to the present day. This record only holds information on early medieval and medieval settlement in Louth.

Type and Period (10)

  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1800 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1300 AD to 1900 AD?)
  • ? (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • ? (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1299 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1101 AD to 1399 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1301 AD to 1499 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1699 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

THIS RECORD ONLY HOLDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT IN LOUTH, FOR GENERAL SETTLEMENT INFORMATION PLEASE SEE RECORD PRN 43837, AND RECORD PRN 43134 FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN THE POST MEDIEVAL PERIOD. FOR EASE OF USE THIS RECORD HAS BEEN SPLIT INTO SOME STREETS/AREAS WITH SMALLER STREETS BEING GROUPED TOGETHER TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE RECORD EASTGATE /NEW STREET During a watching brief at 47/51 Eastgate (TF3290 8745 PRN 44506a), two pit features were recorded along with a substantial assemblage of pottery ranging in date from the 12th to the 18th century. The unusual fabric of some of the sixteenth to eighteenth century pottery is significant and provides further indication that an unidentified kiln was in production in Louth during this period. Other features, such as chalk wall foundations and a possible gravel surface was also recorded. These were found under a layer dating from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries and although technincally undated they are thought to be medieval in date. {1}{2} During evaluation at 9 New Street (TF3283 8740 PRN 44506b) medieval pottery, consisting of a green glazed jug rim and body sherds of a bowl or jug were found in a post-medieval context. {11}{12}{13} During a watching brief at 76a Eastgate (TF3294 8742 PRN 44506c) medieval pottery sherds and a red-brown baked clay layer was recorded, although tentative this may represent a medieval hearth or oven. {14}{15} A watching brief on the site of Meridian House and the Marquis of Granby Hotel, Eastgate (TF3288 8744 PRN 44506d) was undertaken in 1996. Vestigial evidence for chalk rubble foundations in the eastern part of the site were recorded. These foundations consisted of at least one north-south wall and a deeper, possibly load bearing wall on the south frontage. The chalk spread over the western and central part of the development area may have been dispersed demolition rubble from that building. Several other features were recorded and identified as pits and a ditch, which are also thought to be medieval in date. Two sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery were also found, which may also be associated with the pits. {16}{17}{18} In 1989 trial trenching at the Market Hall close to Eastgate (TF 328 873 PRN 44506e) confirmed the presence of medieval deposits, these were exposed very close to the surface. {26} NORTHGATE During a watching brief on Northgate (TF3289 8754 PRN 44506f), a possible ditch was recorded, containing one sherd of 14th to 15th century pottery, although the pottery may have derived from an adjacent medieval make-up layer also containing 14th-15th century pottery. The feature is thought to correspond to a property boundary shown on Espin's map of 1808. No contemporary structural remains were found, suggesting that the site was not developed during this time. {9}{10} A medieval bronze buckle plate was found in 1978 at Northgate (PRN 44506g - TF 329 875). It is rectangular and looped at one end (which is missing). The size and shape of the buckle plate, as well as the way in which the design stands out against the stamped background, suggests a date in the late 12th-13th century. {25} WESTGATE A tessellated pavement was found three feet beneath Westgate House (TF 3252 8727 PRN 44506h) when it was constructed. A diagram in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1801 shows it as sixteen feet in diameter, it is thought to date to the 13th century. {19}{20}{21}{22} UPGATE Trial trenching was undertaken to the rear of the Greyhound hotel on the corner of Gospelgate and Upgate (TF 32718 87230 PRN 44506i). The earliest feature recorded on the site is a pond or pool dating to the 13th-14th centuries. During the 14th century the pool fell out of use and layer of chalk was put down to consolidate the ground. Later on in the 14th century walls were built and these are thought to represent the first buildings and also a boundary. The boundary wall was at some point removed and the area was used for rubbish pits and later still postholes were dug, perhaps indicating a timber structure on the site. The site appears to have fallen into disuse in the 17th and 18th centuries when another layer was identified, this layer of crushed chalk is thought to be contemporary with some of the extant buildings in the area. {23}{24} A full excavation was subsequently carried out on this site (PRN 44506i). The earliest occupation on the site occurred in the 12th-13th century. Prior to this the site was covered in flood deposits, suggesting that it was unsuitable for habitation. The site was probably on the periphery of the town during the 12th-13th century. Horse shoes and horse harness fittings were discovered on site, suggesting that the first buildings were stables. These may have been associated with an inn. Evidence of later buildings fronting the roads was also found and finds indicative of domestic use were recovered. Environmental evidence suggests that arable fields and wooded areas were close by. By the mid-14th century the site was virtually unoccupied, probably due to the Black Death. The walls were robbed and numerous robber pits were seen. The site was not re-occupied until the 18th century (see PRN 43734). The medieval pottery recovered from this site is the largest assemblage yet recovered from the town, and includes 16 new pottery fabrics. It reflects the town's importance as a market centre with trading links across the county and further afield. {29}{30} CORNMARKET The present building on the Cornmarket (TF32844 87358 PRN 44506m) dates to the 18th century. Medieval building evidence was found beneath number 2 but it appears that number 4 may have been a communal yard at this time. The excavations at number 2 revealed a late 17th to mid 18th century pit which contained a medieval mortar, whis would have been used for crushing foodstuffs or dye. Beneath this evidence of a building was found in the form of a chalk wall, either a foundation or a property boundary and a series of floor layers. Medieval pottery dating between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries was also recovered. It could be speculated that the chalk wall was the foundation for a half timbered structure above. {27}{28} During trial trenching on Kiln Lane (TF 32810 87603 PRN 44506j) a single sherd of medieval pottery was recovered. {3}{4} A watching brief on Bridge Street (TF 3256 8745 PRN 44506k) revealed flood deposits from which a 12th century pottery sherd was recovered. A single sherd of 15th or 16th century Humberware was also recovered during a watching brief. {5}{6} During trial trenching at Corporation or Spout Yard (TF 3274 8754 PRN 44506l) two pit features were recorded. The first pit was lined with hollow-stemmed wood woven together in a wickerwork manner, with straw and hay found in the deposit above this lining. The secondary fill included two sherds of 14th or 15th century pottery, animal bone, and a small quantity of hammerscale. Two wooden stakes, each over 1m in length, were found adjacent to this pit feature, and are thought to be from coppiced woodland. They probably formed part of a superstructure associated with the pit feature. A further pit was found to truncate the first pit feature. The pits were found to be close to a source of water, which may be significant. No evidence of function was found, but it appears that after the pits fell into disuse, they filled with organic remains indicative of a woodland habitat, suggesting the presence of trees in this area of medieval Louth. {7}{8}

Sources/Archives (30)

  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. July 1999. 47/51 Eastgate, Louth. MCLN08.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. July 1999. 47/51 Eastgate, Louth. LCNCC 61.99.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Land off Kiln Lane, Louth. KLL02.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Land at Kiln Lane, Louth. LCNCC 2002.4.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Former doctors surgery, Bridge Street, Louth. ODSL 02.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Former doctors surgery, Bridge Street, Louth. LCNCC 2002.255.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Oct 2000. Land at Spout Yard, Chequergate, Louth. LSY 00.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Oct 2000. Land at Spout Yard, Chequergate, Louth. LCNCC 79.99.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Sept 2000. Land to the rear of 25 Northgate, Louth. LNG00.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Sept 2000. Land to the rear of 25 Northgate, Louth. LCNCC 267.99.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. 9 New Street, Louth. -.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. 9 New Street, Louth. LCNCC 57.95.
  •  Article in Serial: F.N. Field and I. George. 1995. Archaeology in Lincolnshire. Vol.30, p.44.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1997. 76a Eastgate, Louth. EGL 97.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. 9 New Street, Louth. LCNCC 237.97.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1996. Archaeological Monitoring of office development on the site of Meridian House and Marquis of Granby Hotel. LEM95.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1996. Archaeological Monitoring of office development on the site of Meridian House and Marquis of Granby Hotel. LCNCC 204.95.
  •  Article in Serial: F.N. Field and I. George. 1996. Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. Vol.31, p.58.
  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 38 NW: 6.
  •  Article in Serial: 1801. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1801, p.1161.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 38 NW: E.
  •  Index: Louth Index Card. XLVIII SW TF 38. B.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2004. Louth DG5 Flooding Scheme, Rear of the Greyhound Hotel. LFS04.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2004. Louth DG5 flooding scheme, Rear of the Greyhound hotel. LCNCC 2004.180.
  •  Article in Serial: A.J. White (ed.). 1981. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, 1980' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.16, pp.81-2.
  •  Article in Serial: Symonds, Jim. 1989. Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology, Fifth Annual Report. p.21.
  •  Unpublished Document: FIELD, F.N.. 1980. Excavations at 2-4 Cornmarket, Louth. -.
  •  Article in Serial: A.J. White (ed.). 1980. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, 1979' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.15, p.78.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2006. Louth DG5 Flooding Scheme, Gospelgate, Louth: Archaeological Excavation. LFS 04.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2006. Louth DG5 Flooding Scheme, Gospelgate, Louth: Archaeological Excavation. LCNCC 2004.80.

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Grid reference Centred TF 333 876 (1965m by 986m) Centre
Civil Parish LOUTH, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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