Monument record 2815 - Hale

Deserted medieval village. Depopulated by the mid 14th century. Large quantities of 12th to early 14th century pottery found, but the earthworks are now destroyed.

{1} Usually taxed with King's Cliffe. Only 3 tenants in 1304. Depopulated by Black Death: in 1356 advowson was worth nothing "because no one dwells nor has dwelt in Hale since the pestilence." c.1720 ruins of houses and signs of "three long streets" were still visible within Apethorpe Park. The name is perpetuated in Halefield Lodge.

{2} Soilmark of Hale deserted Medieval village, aerial photography 1981.

{3} The earthworks still exisited in 1947, but have now been destroyed. The settlement perhaps originated as a daughter-hamlet of Apethorpe, but was always very small. Only three people are recorded at Domesday in 1086. Good documentation for desertion of village in the mid 14th century. On the enclosure map of Apethorpe of 1778 the existing farm is shown and fields to the west and north are called 'Old Walls'; the names 'Long Walls' and 'Grass Walls' are also recorded.

Prior to destruction, the most prominent earthwork was a hollow-way aligned roughly west from the existing farm and widening to form a tunnel-shaped entrance south-east of Tomlin Wood. Near its east end was another smaller, parallel hollow-way and a number of slight platforms lay between them. Further north was a low bank and at least one other platform and traces of another hollow-way.

Large quantities of medieval pottery can be found to the west and north of the farm in modern arable, all of the 12th to early 14th centuries, including much Lyveden ware and some Stamford ware.

{9} The earliest description of the site occurs in 1551: 'Within this manor the land has a freehaye which was sometime a hamlet called The Hale and was inhabited as there remayneth a mention of old walls at this day: The inhabitants whereof were decayed by report of divers ancient persons long before the remembrance of any man living...'

{16} Hale was empited by the plague, but later partly repopulated, only to disappear finally in the 17th century. It was probably finally abandoned when Apethorpe New Park was created before 1575. A map of c1640 shows ruined houses on the site {17}. The name means 'nook' or 'corner of land'- possibly referring to the odd township shape or describing the spur of land between two streams on which the hamlet lay.

{18} TL 01529435. Extensive evidence of desertion in association with ridge and furrow around Cheeseman's Farm and Cheeseman's Lodge appears on APs. Perhaps the site of the DMV of Hole (See TL 09 SW 14).

{19} There is some evidence of former occupation at this site indicated by disturbances and stone scatter in the plough, but there are no surveyable remains. The significant field names 'Old Walls' and "Long Walls' or 'Grass
Walls' occur in the Northants Field Names Survey (1932, at CRO) and on the Apethorpe Estate Map, applying to the two fields centred at TL 013943 and 014945 to the NW of Cheeseman's Farm.

{20} The 'Walls' fields under plough. No pottery sherds found, and the ploughman has never noticed any.

{21} No change from report of 6 4 70. An estate farm, the manager has no knowledge of either a former village or any fields of archaeological material. There is sufficient evidence to suggest this is the site of Hale Village although the APs {18} show positive desertion.

{23} (TL 027934). DMV of Hale. This source records the desertion of the village after the Black Death of 1348-9 and that the name is preserved as Halefield farm although the DMV is located some distance away near Cheesman's Farm.

{25} Central hollow way with building stone and 13th century sherds. Thick corn so could see little. Hill top site.

<1> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<2> 1982, Aerial Photography in Northamptonshire 1981, p110 Apethorpe (Journal). SNN104561.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.10 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<4> 1778, Apethorpe Inclosure Plan 15 (Map). SNN102373.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 288 (Book). SNN77326.

<5> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 318 (Series). SNN100368.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09SW16 (Index). SNN443.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09SW14 (Index). SNN443.

<8> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, 543 & 547 (Series). SNN100371.

<9> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 185/Site 4 (Series). SNN77382.

<10> 1551, WESTMORLAND COLLECTION, 46 (Uncertain). SNN48556.

<11> CAL.INQ.MISC.I (1219-1307) (Uncertain). SNN48555.

<12> CAL.IMP, II/226/No332 (Uncertain). SNN48557.

<13> CAL.IMP, X/246/No284 (Uncertain). SNN48558.

<14> 1932, FIELDNAMES SURVEY (Uncertain). SNN48559.

<15> CARTULARY (Uncertain). SNN48560.

<16> Foard, G.; Hall, D. & Partida, T., 2009, Rockingham Forest: An atlas of the medieval and early-modern landscape, p. 60, 65, 161- 164 (Book). SNN106598.

<17> James I, Northamptonshire: Rockingham Forest. Map of the bailiwick of Cleeve showing field boundaries and names. Buildings and trees are also shown (Map). SNN111062.

<18> Aerial Photograph, APs(CPE/UK/1925: 1122-1123). (Photographs). SNN112974.

<19> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 06-APR-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<20> GSL, 1970, Field Investigators Comments, F2 GSL 28-OCT-70 (Note). SNN112507.

<21> Colquhoun, FD, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F3 FDC 21-JUN-76 (Notes). SNN114457.

<22> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK 1925, 1122-3) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<23> TAYLOR C.C., 1974, FIELDWORK IN MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY, p. 93-4 (Uncertain). SNN58049.

<24> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890172 (Archive). SNN113295.

<25> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Apethorpe/Site 6 (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 7:27PM