Monument record MLI88466 - Settlement of Old Bolingbroke

Summary

The settlement of Bolingbroke has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period and survives to the present day.

Type and Period (9)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The name of Bolingbroke derives from the Old English personal name 'Bula' and the word 'broc' together with the Old English connective particle 'ing'. It means the brook associated with or called after Bula. {1} The Domesday book records that there was a manor at Old Bolingbroke owned by Ivo Taillebois, together with two carucates of land. There was a church, a new market and 3 mills as well as a minimum population of 32. {2} The Lay Subsidy in 1334 records a tax of £1.4s.0d. which is much lower than the average for the Soke of Bolingbroke, implying that the parish was less wealthy than the average. {3} A market was granted in 1202 to Ranulph, Earl of Chester. It was held on a Sunday, but at a later date the day was changed. In 1377, there are 117 people paying poll tax in Bolingbroke parish. {4} In 1563 there was 40 households in Bolingbroke. {5} The place-name prefix of 'Old' was adopted in the early 19th century with the building of 'New Bolingbroke', 5 miles to the south-west. {6} The population of Old Bolingbroke was 283 in 1801 rising to a peak of 1018 in 1861 and falling again to 469 in 1901. {7} Earthworks were observed as part of the National Mapping Programme. These included the castle earthworks (SAM 22623); a moat probably associated with the castle (PRN 46412a - TF 3505 6506); ridge and furrow making field systems (PRN 46412b - TF 3521 6505, and PRN 46412c - TF 3498 6540); and ponds (PRN 46412d - TF 3488 6535). {8} Quantities of post-medieval finds have been made in this area: 17th century pottery and clay pipes found whilst cutting pipe trench (PRN 46412e - TF 3499 6519). A scatter of 17th century pottery was found on the roadside verge (PRN 46412f - TF 3484 6504). Post-medieval pottery site at Bolingbroke. The adjoining pig sty is said to be built from the last pottery building in Bolingbroke (PRN 46412g - TF 3505 6483). Scatter of 17th century pottery found in inn garden (PRN 46412h - TF 3485 6515). A group of 15th-16th century pottery kilns, clearly visible as dark rings in light sandy soil, were excavated in the 1960s (PRN 46412i - TF 3559 6480). 15th-16th century green glaze waster pottery was found and the remains of one kiln showed it to be a 5-flue kiln 9 feet in diameter. The site of a post-medieval kiln (PRN 46412j - TF 3488 6522). Wasters scattered around site and a small (complete) waster pancheon and a number of bowl dish and pancheon sherds have been found. A kiln site producing yellow-green glazed wares located in garden; next to house built of castle stone (PRN 46412k - TF 3522 6483). House, croft site and kilns of Robert Stanney the potter, one kiln may still be in the area of the garden and with its load intact (PRN 46412l - TF 3481 6501). A scatter of yellow-brown glazed pottery including a stamped pancheon sherd were found in the garden. {9}{10}{11}{12} Scatters of medieval and post-medieval pottery, likely associated with production sites in the village, were recovered during a watching brief associated with the installation of electricity cables in 1995: Features containing ash were observed and pottery, including wasters was recovered in the vicinity of previous finds of post-medieval pottery, indicating the location of a probable pottery kiln nearby (PRN 46412h - TF 3485 6515). Twenty medieval pottery sherds were recovered (PRN 46412m - TF 3550 6480). A pottery kiln, with large quantities of pottery, including wasters, was found (PRN 46412n - TF 3524 6489). The former course of a stream was also revealed, which may have been associated with the kiln, as was the remains of a possible outbuilding, also recorded. Pottery sherds, including wasters were found, indicating the possible proximity of a pottery kiln (PRN 46412o - TF 3505 6518). Features containing ash and finds of pottery, including wasters, indicate the presence of a pottery kiln (PRN 46412p - TF 3491 6510). A fired surface was revealed in the base of the trench (PRN 46412q - TF 3551 6472). It is unclear whether this was the result of a small localised fire, or traces of a pottery kiln. A tile recovered from the area had glaze covering an early break, and it may have been used in a pottery kiln either as part of a lined floor or as a support. Therefore it is certainly possible that a kiln was located very close to here. A possible pottery kiln was located here, with much associated pottery, including wasters (PRN 46412r - TF 3534 6485). Tile and clay pipe were also recovered. Other features and finds nearby are thought to be associated. Some of the features are thought to contain cess. The recovery of pottery including wasters indicates the possible presence nearby of a pottery kiln (PRN 46412s - TF 3482 6496). Large quantities of pottery, including wasters were recovered at the site of a previously identified kiln (PRN 46412j - TF 3488 6522). Slight earthworks were noted nearby which may be associated with the kiln. Large quantities of pottery, including wasters were recovered in the vicinity of a previously found kiln site (PRN 46412k - TF 3522 6483). {13}{14} 31 sherds of Bolingbroke pottery dating to the 16th to the 18th century, including a waster were found in two of the five trenches on the onion factory site, Main Road (PRN 46412t - TF 3520 6491). The presence of pottery in these two trenches may indicate the presence of a kiln in the vicinity, particularly in view of the absence of pottery from the other three trenches. {15}{16} A circular brick well and an east/west aligned gully were recorded during a watching brief, along with dump deposits containing pottery dating from the 14th to the 20th century (PRN 46412u - TF 3509 6484). A sherd of a German stoneware jug may indicate moderate wealth. {17}{18} A ditch aligned north-north-east/south-south-west, containing a sherd of late sixteenth to seventeenth century pottery, was recorded during a watching brief in 2002 (PRN 46412v - TF 3488 6512). As the ditch ran broadly parallel with Moat Lane, it was suggested that it represented a former roadside ditch, the course of which had altered slightly over the years. {19}{20} A small assemblage of pottery sherds were recovered during an evaluation at the corner plot, Hagnaby Lane, including one medieval sherd, ten sherds of Bolingbroke ware, dating to the 17th or 18th century, and a few sherds of 19th century date (PRN 46412w - TF 3513 6492). {21}{22}{23} Some evidence of post-medieval activity was recorded during an evaluation on land west of Hagnaby Road (PRN 46412x - TF 3475 6495). Some features to the north of the site are dateable to the 16th-17th century. A possible occupation layer, or agricultural soil, was identified. Postholes were also recorded and considered to be of a similar periods, although they contained no dateable artefacts. These features are likely to represent a structural phase, perhaps a timber building. A small quantity of post-medieval pottery was recovered from the site, which rather than indicating the presence of a pottery kiln, as may have been expected, suggests manuring for agriculture. A small quantity of medieval pottery was also recovered from the site, including 14th and 15th century wares, which suggest the land was manured for agricultural use. {24}{25} A watching brief was undertaken on the Anglian Water Sewerage Pipeline. Post-medieval to modern pottery was observed in most of the groundworks, please refer to the report for details. Of particular note was a group of post-medieval wasters observed in trenches (PRN 46412y - TF 3525 6482). There were also two sherds of 11th to 12th century pottery (PRN 46412z - TF 3505 6496). {26}{27} An evaluation was conducted in February 2013, in advance of the proposed construction of a new dwelling, on land adjacent to Moat Lane, Old Bolingbroke (PRN 46412aa - TF 3496 6509). A single trial trench was excavated, revealing a series of early post-medieval clay silt deposits, probably the result of infilling of a possible medieval clay extraction pit. The clay would have likely been used as the raw material for a medieval tile kiln, located in the immediate vicinity, and further suggested by the presence of kiln rake out material, containing large quantities of ash and charcoal. Eighteen fragments of medieval tile was also recovered during the excavation, though it was thought that this relates to the post-medieval backfilling of the possible extraction pit. {28}{29} Possible traces of medieval ridge and furrow were identified in February 2014, during a site visit to inform proposed residential development on land off Spilsby Lane and Back Lane (PRN 46412ab - TF 3513 6484). The remains were identified as north to south aligned linear earthworks, though these had been heavily truncated by modern ploughing activity. {30} Subsequent trial trenching conducted on the Back Lane site in April 2015 did not identify any archaeological features, but did recover a relatively large assemblage of unstratified medieval and post-medieval pottery and tile. The assemblage comprised material from a wide range of pottery types and vessels, including a large number of locally made Toynton and Bolingbroke ware fragments. {31}{32}

Sources/Archives (32)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. p.16.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 14/65, 69/38.
  •  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.127.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Graham Platts. 1985. Land and People in Medieval Lincolnshire. pp.297, 307.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Gerald A.J. Hodgett. 1975. Tudor Lincolnshire. p.194.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William White. 1856. History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Second Edition. pp.775-6.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. p.366.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF 3463: LI.125.3.2; 4 & 7.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 36 SE: A, A1.
  •  Article in Serial: J.B. Whitwell (ed.). 1966. 'Archaeological Notes, 1964 and 1965' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.1, p.49.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 36 NW: Y.
  •  Artefact: City and County Museum Collection. LM 3.78.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1996. Old Bolingbroke Electricty Cables Undergrounding Schemes: Archaeological Monitoring. OBC96.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1996. Old Bolingbroke Electricty Cables Undergrounding Schemes: Archaeological Monitoring. LCNCC 46.96.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. Old Bolingbroke Onion Factory Site, Main Road: Archaeological Evaluation. -.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. Old Bolingbroke Onion Factory Site, Main Road: Archaeological Evaluation. LCNCC 183.95.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Dec 2000. Rose Cottage, Back Lane, Old Bolingbroke. OBBL00.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Dec 2000. Rose Cottage, Back Lane, Old Bolingbroke. LCNCC 2000.151.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Sept 2002. Moat Lane, Old Bolingbroke. MLOB02.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Sept 2002. Moat Lane, Old Bolingbroke. LCNCC 2002.396.
  •  Article in Serial: F.N. Field and I. George. 1995. Archaeology in Lincolnshire. vol.30, p.39.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. Old Bolingbroke, Corner Plot Hagnaby Lane: Archaeological Evaluation. -.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. Old Bolingbroke, Corner Plot Hagnaby Lane: Archaeological Evaluation. LCNCC 183.94.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 1997. Archaeological Evaluation on Land West of Hagnaby Road, Old Bolingbroke. BHR97.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 1997. Archaeological Evaluation on Land West of Hagnaby Road, Old Bolingbroke. LCNCC 165.97.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jul 2005. Watching brief on the Anglian Water Sewerage Pipeline, Old Bolingbroke. OBSU03.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jul 2005. Watching brief on the Anglian Water Sewerage Pipeline, Old Bolingbroke. LCNCC 2003.341.
  •  Report: PRO Archaeology Services. 2013. Land Adjacent to Moat Lane, Old Bolingbroke. PROAS site code: OBML12.
  •  Archive: PRO Archaeology Services. 2013. Land Adjacent to Moat Lane, Old Bolingbroke. LCNCC 2013.4.
  •  Report: Neville Hall. 2014. Desk Based Assessment of Land off Spilsby Lane/Back Lane, Old Bolingbroke. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2015. Back Lane, Old Bolingbroke. PCAS site code: LOBE 15.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2015. Back Lane, Old Bolingbroke. LCNCC 2015.76.

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 3517 6506 (967m by 861m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish BOLINGBROKE, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (10)

Please contact the HER for details.

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.