Monument record MLI88741 - Old Leake Settlement

Summary

Old Leake was settled in late Anglo-Saxon times. It is documented in the Domesday Book, and survives to the present day.

Type and Period (11)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Modern - 850 AD to 2050 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1499 AD)
  • ? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Post Medieval - 850 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1499 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Post Medieval - 850 AD to 1900 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1500 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Second World War - 850 AD to 1945 AD)
  • (Medieval to Second World War - 1100 AD to 1945 AD)
  • (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1799 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Post Medieval - 850 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

Old Leake is first documented in the Domesday Book, where it is referred to as 'Leche'. It had a minimum population of 32 sokemen, 40 villeins, 16 bordars and 2 'count's men'. There were 34 acres of meadow, and 26 salt-pans. {1} The name Leake is derived from the Old English word for 'brook' though it may have been replaced by a similar Old Norse word with the same meaning. {2} The Lay Subsidy of 1334 lists the parish's wealth as £21 0s 0d, slightly above average for that wapentake. {3} 127 households are listed in the Diocesan Returns of 1563. {4} By the late 17th-early 18th century there were 174 families in the parish, falling to 155. This included 5 Quakers and 2 Anabaptists. {5} In 1801 the population of the parish was listed as 911, peaking at 2062 in 1851 then declining to 1660 by 1901. {6} Medieval pottery sherds were found in October 1965, in the garden of 3 Commonside Road (PRN 13829a - TF 407 504). More sherds were found in the same garden in October 1966. {7}{8}{9} Surface finds of Saxo-Norman pottery were reported in 1965-66, from the grounds of The Giles Secondary School (PRN 13829b - TF 4081 5006). The assemblage included St Neots ware, and possibly Thetford ware. {10} Post-medieval pottery sherds including pancheon rims were found in 1968, in a field just inland from the church (PRN 13829c - TF 407 503). The sherds are now in the City and County Museum but are apparently not accessioned. {11} An intercutting series of late Anglo-Saxon to medieval ditches and associated pits were identified in August 1995, during archaeological monitoring of groundworks for an extension to The Giles School (PRN 13829d - TF 4081 5004). An assemblage of early 10th to 15th century pottery was recovered from these features, along with fragments of medieval brick, tile and animal bone. The analysis of environmental samples taken from the fills of the ditches would indicate that they were used for the dumping of domestic refuse, suggesting that they were close to an area of habitation, possibly with manorial connections. {12}{13} A dense scatter of pottery was identified in April 1996, during a programme of systematic field walking on land at Church Road, Old Leake (PRN 13829e - TF 4076 5038). The vast majority of the recovered assemblage comprised sherds of post-medieval pottery, the majority of which were concentrated in the area immediately fronting Church Road. Very few of these sherds were dated to the modern period (19th century or later), with the majority falling somewhere in the mid 17th century. Seven clay tobacco pipe fragments were also dated to the 17th century. Smaller and much more generally distributed quantities of medieval and late Anglo-Saxon pottery were also recovered. The majority of these fabrics appear to have been produced locally, though some fragments of Lincoln Kiln-type shell-tempered sherds were present, along with Bourne, Lincoln and Toynton All Saints wares. {14}{15} Subsequent magnetometry survey of the Church Road site recorded a complex series of intercutting ditch-like and pit-like features. Some of the linear anomalies were indicative of medieval or post-medieval field boundary ditches, though the complex intercutting nature of the features likely indicates prolonged occupation in this area. {16} Subsequent trial trenching was conducted in August 1996 to assess the complex series of intercutting ditches and pits previously identified on the land off Church Road. Seven trial trenches were excavated, revealing an unusually complex range of archaeological features including ditches, gullys and pits, dating from the late Saxon to post-medieval periods, and confirming the prolonged span of occupation in this area. It was thought that many of the recorded ditches had functioned as field boundaries, with the discrete pits possibly representing industrial activity on or nearby the site. A number of the features contained rubbish or dumped deposits, associated with this settlement and industrial activity in the late Saxon and medieval periods. Analysis of environmental samples taken from an east to west aligned boundary ditch identified 9th to 10th century material including carbonised grains and seeds (including carbonised beans), pottery, mollusc shell, charcoal and ash, and corroded flakes of iron hammerscale. A number of ditches and pits containing pottery from the late 15th to 18th century were also identified. Occupation appears to have taken place between the 16th and mid-17th centuries, followed by a possible hiatus in the later 17th century, with re-use of the site in the 18th/19th centuries. The chronology suggests that this apparent hiatus may have occurred at the end of the English Civil War (1642-46). Many of the features sampled which date to this period contained large quantities of ash and charcoal, with some containing window lead, stained glass and even worked stone. {17}{18} A stem fragment from a 17th century clay tobacco pipe was recovered from a post-medieval subsoil layer in January 2000, during archaeological monitoring at the Giles School (PRN 13829f - TF 4087 4999). {19}{20} A site visit, geophysical survey and scheme of trial trenching on land off School Lane revealed early medieval and medieval features on this site (TF 4058 5012, PRN 13829j). A large ditch formed a sustained land division, established from at least late Saxon times. Other ditches and pits are suggestive of domestic and agricultural activity. A post-medieval ditch and several undated features including a possible hearth and a possible pond (TF 4058 5012, PRN 13829k) were also revealed. {21}{22}{23} A large post medieval pit, dating to the nineteenth and early twentieth century, was identified during trial trenching at Hadwick Motors, Church Road (TF 4093 5009, PRN 13829l). It contained 3 fragments of post medieval pottery, dating from the late seventeenth century to the early twentieth century. {24}{25} During excavation on land off School Lane, Saxo-Norman deposits were identified on the east side of the site (TF 40560 50480, PRN 13829m). The Saxo-Norman remains tended to occur on the higher parts of the site, where the natural occurred at 2m OD or higher. A probable boundary ditch was identified in Trench 4, while to the southeast plough marks indicating arable use of this area were observed in Trench 5. These plough marks contained isolated fragments of Saxo-Norman pottery . Further southeast in Trench 7 were several Saxo-Norman pits, ditches and gullies. One of the pits contained mixed occupation debris and is probably a refuse pit. Settlement waste was also recorded in some of the gullies, but was generally not very abundant. In addition to this waste material, other occupation debris, including mussel shell, cereal grains, fish bones and mineralised insect remains, suggests some of the gullies functioned as drains associated with nearby habitation. Three pits were recorded in Trench 9. These contained abundant quantities of waste material, pottery, metal items, quern stone, fired clay and marine mollusc shell, and functioned as refuse pits. Generally, the evidence suggests the site is on the fringe of settlement of this period. The same excavation also uncovered medieval features dating from the 12th -15th centuries (TF 40560 50480, PRN 13829n). These were largely restricted, generally occurring in the northern half of the site, though there was also a concentration of medieval activity at the southern limit of the investigation area. Isolated pits containing small amounts of medieval artefacts were recorded in Trenches 2 and 3. Pits with similarly restricted quantities of medieval artefacts were noted in Trench 4. A probable boundary or roadside ditch and a gully, both aligned east to west were also recorded in Trench 4, along with a plough mark on the same orientation. Few artefacts were retrieved from these linear features which are probably related to agricultural, particularly arable, functions. A large refuse pit containing substantial quantities of medieval artefacts and other waste materials was revealed in Trench 7. Remains of aquatic plants from the pit suggest it contained water at least periodically. Brick occurred abundantly in the pit and some of it was overfired. This suggests brick making took place in the near vicinity during the 15th century. Near to the pit was a pair of post-holes that yielded sherds of 13th to 14th century pottery. The apparent concentration of features and finds in Trench 7 may be indicative of occupation of this period somewhere on site or close by. Pits, gullies and ditches, one of them curvilinear, were recorded in the southern corner of the site. These generally contained few fragments of medieval pottery and no other artefacts. The dearth of occupation debris in the south suggests these features were peripheral to habitation and perhaps have an agricultural function. This excavation also revealed post-medieval and modern remains (18th to 20th century) which were largely confined to the south-western perimeter of the site (TF 40560 50480, PRN 13829o). In this area was a line of large pits of uncertain function, possibly quarries. Mis-fired bricks were recovered from these and perhaps imply brick making in the area during the post-medieval period. However, the majority of the post-medieval remains were of a agricultural nature, being predominantly ditches, pits and post-holes (fence lines). {26}{27} A watching brief at the Giles School uncovered a pit containing a small amount of Saxo-Norman pottery and an undefined feature of probably similar date containing mussel shells (TF 40776 50101, PRN 13829p). Another pit, of post-medieval date, was discovered along with a fragment of 17th century pottery in the topsoil (TF 40776 50101, PRN 13829q). {28}{29} An undated ditch was uncovered during a watching brief at the Hardwick Motors site (TF 409 509, PRN 13829r). {30}{31} Trial trenching at TF 40609 50425 uncovered a series of late Saxon and medieval deposits (PRN 13829s) including pits and ditches. These indicate that the area was in use for agricultural activity in proximity to the settlement. Post medieval features (PRN 13829t) including pits filled with burnt deposits containing slag and hearth lining were also encountered. These are suggestive of iron smithing being undertaken in the immediate vicinity. Several undated linear features and a pit were also uncovered (PRN 13829u). {32}{33} Archaeological excavation on land off Church Road (TF 4075 5038) revealed a continuous sequence of deposits from the late Saxon period (late 9th - 10th centuty) through to the post medieval period (mid-late 18th century) (PRN 13829e-g). A rectangular timber-beam structure of late 9th-10th century date was identified and this may have functioned as an outbuilding. A field or enclosure system on a north-northeast to south-southwest alignment was established during the late Saxon/Saxo-Norman period and remained in use until the late medieval period. Distinctive sub-rectangular pits were first identified in the Saxo-Norman period and continued to be dug into the post-medieval period. These pits were probably used for clay extraction, the clay possibly being used for flooring, flood defences and possibly pottery production in the area (possible waster sherds were also identified in the pottery assemblage). The majority of features excavated dated from the medieval period (13th-16th century) and represented extensive occupation either on or within close proximity to the site. A timber beam slot and post structure of 13th-15th century date was identified. A large quantity of later medieval brick and tile were recovered, suggesting the presence of buildings in the vicinity. Post medieval remains were more limited and occupation on the site appears to have ceased by the mid-late 18th century. Environmental evidence and animal bone suggests that the site had a mixed pastoral/arable economy. During the earlier occupation of the site (late 9th-12th century) animals appear to have been reared primarily for milk or wool whereas during the medieval period and later they were killed earlier, suggesting a shifting focus to meat production. A salt resistant barley was grown in the area, later supplemented with wheat which may have been imported to the settlement from elsewhere. Pottery from the site consists mainly of locally produced wares with an increasing number of imported wares from the later phases of activity, including a small quantity of continental medieval and post medieval wares. Medieval carved stone and painted glass fragments were also recovered. These probably originated from the nearby church (PRN 12801). {34}{35} During trial trenching on land off School Lane (TF 4062 5006), two linear features and a possible palaeochannel (PRN 13829v) were uncovered. No dating evidence was retrieved from any of these features but it is thought that they could be related to early medieval-medieval features found to the north (PRN 13829j), and that they may indicate peripheral activity related to that site. {36}{37} Archaeological excavations were carried out between October 2007 and May 2008 on land off School Lane (PRN 13829w), within two separate areas (Areas 1 and 2), aligned north to south in linear fashion. The investigations revealed late Saxon and Saxo-Norman remains, together with evidence of medieval, post-medieval and modern activity. The assemblage of pottery from the site is dominated by late Saxon material (123 sherds dated mid 9th to 11th century, representing 58% of the assemblage, much of it deriving from industries in Lincoln, but also Torksey and Stamford, as well as a probable local source), with a reduced level of activity in the Saxo-Norman to early medieval period (34 sherds, 22% of the assemblage, dated as 11th to early 13th century, including examples from Stamford, Thetford and St Neots industries). Although no distinction is made in the stratigraphic record between late Saxon and Saxo-Norman deposits, it is clear that the majority of excavated features date to these periods. Of particular note were ditches and sequences of recuts at the northern end of the southermost area (Area 1), representing probable boundaries aligned northeast to southwest and northwest to southeast. The final phase of this activity was represented by a curvilinear ditch, which may have formed part of an enclosure extending north and east. The westernmost boundary would appear to have continued northwards into Area 1, where it was represented by a sequence of ditches (all undated). Fragmentary remains of stratigraphically earlier (but undated) ditches and gullies were recorded in both areas. In Area 2, a possible ditch terminal lay immediately southeast of the possible enclosure, while a substantial ditch, running approximately east to west, was recorded at the southern end of the area. Eleven pits attributable to the late Saxon/Saxo-Norman periods were identified, mostly in Area 2, where features included a cluster of large pits near the southern end of the trench. Four probable postholes were located in Area 2, all undated. Fuel ash adhering to a fragment of fired clay found in one of the ditches associated with the possible enclosure suggests the possible presence of a metal-working site in the immediate vicinity. The small assemblage of animal bone from features identified as late Saxon/Saxo-Norman, included a relatively high proportion of cattle bone with sheep/goat, and pig also well represented. Medieval features included, at the northern end of Area 2, a curvilinear ditch, which truncated an earlier gully as well as ditches associated with the earlier phase of activity. Further to the south, a ditch terminus extended from the eastern side of the trench. Four pits, widely dispersed across Area 2, were found to contain medieval pottery. The comparative scarcity of medieval features is reflected in a relatively small assemblage of pottery, dominated by Toynton types thought to have been manufactured in Boston. Post-medieval remains included the skeleton of a pig, found at the southern end of Area 2, and a north to south aligned ditch (also in Area 2), which was set at right angles to an opposing ditch terminal. The north to south ditch was truncated by a large pit, as was a substantial east to west aligned ditch. The latter produced clay pipes, window lead, a buckle and copper pins. A small number of modern features was recorded, including two pits in Area 1. Environmental samples revealed a low to moderate density of possible cereal processing waste and domestic detritus in ninth to twelth century deposits, with no convincing evidence to suggest primary deposition. Twelfth to fifteenth century deposits were noticeably different in that the weed assemblage was dominated by grass fruits and seeds of grassland herbs. Residues from the high temperature combustion of grass/straw indicated the burning of flooring materials or animal fodder/litter. Henbane seeds in the assemblage may have derived from plants growing in base rich soils or near to manure heaps. {38}{39} A trial trench evaluation, comprising two trenches 10m long by 1.6m wide, was carried in February 2009, on land to the northeast of Church Road (PRN 13829x). The earliest deposit was marine clay alluvium of likely post-Roman date. In Trench 1, the latter had been cut by two features interpreted as possible pits (one containing a single fragment of Saxo-Norman pottery), and a curving ditch of probable medieval date. All features were in turn cut by a curvilinear ditch containing a small number of sherds dated as late 13th to 15th century. Two alluvial flood deposits extended over the medieval features. The lower deposit yielded two sherds dated as 13th to 15th century. Overlying the alluvial deposits, a thick layer of subsoil extended throughout both trenches. This was post-dated, in Trench 1, by a garden wall of probable 17th or 18th century date, and in Trench 2 by a rectangular cut, possibly a posthole. The posthole was the only feature encountered in Trench 2. Topsoil occupied the uppermost levels of the trenches. The pottery assemblage as a whole comprised mostly medieval material, with Toynton types (probably manufactured in Boston) predominating. Other finds included a very small quantity of animal bone. {40}{41} During a watching brief at The Giles School, Church Road, Old Leake [PRN13829y], six linear ditch cuts and two pits were found. Within one of the pits was a sherd of late 12th to 14th century pottery. These features may represent an early medieval or medieval field system. {42}{43}

Sources/Archives (43)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 12/64.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. p.79.
  •  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.122.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Gerald A.J. Hodgett. 1975. Tudor Lincolnshire. p.193.
  •  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. p.78.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. p.359.
  •  Index: Parish card index of the former South Lincolnshire Archaeology Unit. OLD LEAKE. 1965.
  •  Artefact: City and County Museum Collection. LCNCC 1977.96.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 45 SW: P.
  •  Article in Serial: Healey, H.. 1964-65. Boston and South Lincolnshire Archaeology Group Annual Report. pp.5-9.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 45 SW: M.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. The Giles School, Old Leake. LAS site code: OLG 95.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1995. The Giles School, Old Leake. LCNCC 115.95.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 1996. Desk Top Study and Field Evaluation Report: Church Road, Old Leake. PCA site code: CRO96.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 1996. Desk Top Study and Field Evaluation Report: Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 59.96.
  •  Report: Landscape Research Centre Ltd. 1996. Magnetometry Survey on Land at Church Road, Old Leake. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 1996. Archaeological Evaluation at Church Road, Old Leake. PCA site code: CRO96.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 1996. Archaeological Evaluation at Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 59.96.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2000. Land Adjacent to Giles School, Old Leake. APS site code: GOL99.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2000. Land Adjacent to Giles School, Old Leake. LCNCC 2000.12.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Geophysics. Mar 2001. Land off School Lane, Old Leake. SLOL01.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. June 2001. Land off School Lane, Old Leake. SLOB01.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. June 2001. Land off School Lane, Old Leake. LCNCC 2001.100.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2003. Land at Hadwick Motors, Church Road, Old Leake. OLC03.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2003. Land at Hadwick Motors, Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 2003.45.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. May 2004. Archaeological Evaluation on land at School Lane / Church Lane, Old Leake. SLO03.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. May 2004. Archaeological Evaluation on land at School Lane / Church Lane, Old Leake. LCNCC 2003.381.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Watching Brief at the Giles School, Old Leake. OLG06.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Watching Brief at the Giles School, Old Leake. LCNCC 2006.10.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2005. Archaeological Watching Brief at the Former Hadwick Motors, Church Road, Old Leake. OLC03.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2005. Archaeological Watching Brief at the Former Hadwick Motors, Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 2003.45.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on Land off School Lane/Church Road, Old Leake. OLSL06.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on Land off School Lane/Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 2003.381.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Excavation on land opposite The Old Vicarage, Church Road, Old Leake. OLV05.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Excavation on land opposite The Old Vicarage, Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 2005.172.
  •  Report: M & M Archaeological Services. 2005. Results of an Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation: on land off The Bungalow, School Lane, Old Leake. SLOL05.
  •  Archive: M & M Archaeological Services. 2005. Results of an Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation: on land off The Bungalow, School Lane, Old Leake. LCNCC 2005.267.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2009. Archaeological Excavation on Land Opposite School Lane, Old Leake, Lincolnshire. OLSL07.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2009. Archaeological Excavation on Land Opposite School Lane, Old Leake, Lincolnshire. LCNCC 2007.186.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2009. Archaeological Evaluation on land off Church Road, Old Leake, Lincolnshire. OLCH09.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2009. Archaeological Evaluation on land off Church Road, Old Leake, Lincolnshire. LCNCC 2009.15.
  •  Report: Neville Hall. 2011. Archaeological watching brief at The Giles School, Church Road, Old Leake. GSOL10.
  •  Archive: Neville Hall. 2011. Archaeological watching brief at The Giles School, Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC 2010.179.

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Grid reference Centred TF 4082 5019 (943m by 563m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish OLD LEAKE, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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