Monument record MLI89334 - Settlement of Ruskington

Summary

The settlement of Ruskington is first mentioned in the Domesday Book and survives to the present day.

Type and Period (4)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Modern - 1000 AD to 2050 AD)
  • (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • (Unknown date)
  • (Unknown date)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

The settlement of Ruskington is first mentioned in the Domesday Book. It belonged to Drew de Beurere and Geoffrey Alselin, and had a minimum population of 43 sokemen, 8 villeins, 16 bordars and a priest. A church and 3 mills are also mentioned. {1} The place name Ruskington is derived from the Old English 'riscen' meaning 'rushy, growing with rushes' and 'tun' meaning 'a farmstead, village'. The medial '-sk-' is due to Scandinavian influence. {2} The Lay Subsidy of 1334 lists the parish's wealth as £5 9s 3d, above average for its wapentake (Flaxwell). {3} The Diocesan Return of 1563 records the parish's population as 55 households. {4} This had risen to 80 families by the late 17th/early 18th century, as recorded by the Dioscesan Returns. {5} By 1801 the parish had a population of 483 people, rising to 1191 by 1881. This figure remained fairly stable for the next few decades, and the figure by 1901 was 1188. {6} The right to hold a market on Saturdays in Ruskington at the Manor was granted to William Bardulf the Younger by Henry III on 14th April 1265. The same charter also granted the right to hold fairs, also at the Manor, at Whitsun and All Saints festivals. Another market day was granted, also to William Bardulf the Younger by Henry III, on 28th March 1267. This market was to be held on Fridays at the Manor. {7} The various indiviuals and families who held land in Ruskington in the medieval and post-medieval periods are discussed in Trollope's 'History of Sleaford'. {8} A description of the parish and its inhabitants in 1856 is given in White's 'Directory'. {9} Unstratified medieval finds (PRN 64184a) consisting of a small assemblage of late medieval pottery were found at Water Farm (TF 0818 5098) during a watching brief. The pottery probably represents a manuring scatter, indicating agricultural land use. {10}{11} A number of cut features including pits (PRN 64184b) were investigated during a watching brief at 29 Station Road (TF 0849 5087). Some of these features contained medieval pottery. {12}{13}{14} A number of undated features (PRN 64184c) were identified during a watching brief at Holme Lane (TF 08479 50930). The features include pits and possible post holes which may indicate the presence of a structure. An undated linear feature was also observed which may represent a medieval plough furrow. Late medieval tile (PRN 64184d) was also recovered which may indicate the presence of a building on or near the site in the late period. Medieval architectural fragments (PRN 64184e) were observed in a rockery, and these are likely to have originated at Haverholme Priory or another redundant medieval ecclesiastical site. {15}{16} Two undated ditches (PRN 64184f) were found during a watching brief at Chapel Street (TF 08205 51075). These features are likely to have been drainage ditches. A late post medieval (19th century) soakaway (PRN 64184g) was also identified. {17}{18} A number of later post medieval finds (PRN 64184h) were recovered during a watching brief at TF 0805 5100, although no archaeological features were identified. The finds include a range of pottery of 17th-20th century date, a small quantity of clay pipe fragments, window glass, a glass bead, a copper button, fired clay, tile and slag. {19}{20}

Sources/Archives (20)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. 30/35; 64/1, 2.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names.
  •  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.124.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Gerald A.J. Hodgett. 1975. Tudor Lincolnshire. p.190.
  •  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. pp.101-2.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. p.362.
  •  Website: Letters, Samantha (Dr). 2003. Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England and Wales to 1516: Counties and Wales. www.history.ac.uk/cmh/gaz/countyframe.html. Ruskington.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Edward Trollope. 1872. Sleaford and the Wapentakes of Flaxwell and Aswardhurn in the County of Lincoln. pp.293-302.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William White. 1856. History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Second Edition. pp.453-4.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2004. Archaeological evaluation on land at Water Farm, Ruskington. RWF04.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2004. Archaeological evaluation on land at Water Farm, Ruskington. LCNCC: 2004.190.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1994. Archaeological Watching Brief Report: 29 Station Road, Ruskington. SRR94.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 1994. Archaeological Watching Brief: 29 Station Road, Ruskington. LCNCC 128.94.
  •  Article in Serial: F.N. Field and I. George. 1995. Archaeology in Lincolnshire. vol 30, p 49.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. Oct 2005. Trial trench on land at Holme Lane, Ruskington. RHL05.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Oct 2005. Trial trench on land at Holme Lane, Ruskington. LCNCC 2005:123.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. May 2004. Archaeological Watching Brief on land at Chapel Street, Ruskington. RCS04.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. May 2004. Archaeological Watching Brief on land at Chapel Street, Ruskington. LCNCC 2004.9.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Watching Brief at Rectory Road, Ruskington. RRR 04.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Watching Brief at Rectory Road, Ruskington. LCNCC 2004.177.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 08362 50928 (717m by 681m)
Civil Parish RUSKINGTON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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