Monument record 2416/6/1 - Possible site of manor house and associated buildings, Burystead Manor

Surveys of the 13th and 14th centuries and of 1651 describe the manor house with a courtyard containing various buildings. The site of the manor house probably lies within the 19th century extension to the churchyard, but the outer court of the manor with its barns etc lies in the area known as 'Gardenways'.

{2} In the late 13th and early 14th century the manor comprised a capital messuage with a courtyard containing various buildings.
When surveyed in 1651 the manor comprised 'All that capital messuage or mansion house called Berrystead now in the occupation of Margery Page consisting of a large hall and a fair dining and a parlour boarded and wainscoated with a kitchen, a brewhouse, one little parlour, two buttrys nine lodgeing chambers one gallery with a little bay of buildings used for a cole house. The building being of square stone and covered with slate.
It would therefore appear that the site of the manor house itself now lies within the 19th century extension to the churchyard, but that the outer court of the manor with its barns etc lies in the area known as 'Gardenways'.

There was also attached to the manor a walled garden from which there was income from herbage and fruit in 1300-1.
It is unlikely, but the fragmentation may already have occurred by 1321-2 when it was stated that the capital messuage with curtilage but without a garden was worth 2/- per annum. In 1400 there were three parcels described as formerly part of the manor garden, held by Robert Lymbergh (formerly held by LadeWions Heriut and then held in 1414-15 by William Wadenowe ) for 2/- per annum, another by William Botiller for 2/- per annum and the third by John Sperhankes for 18d. per annum. By the later 15th century these plots, which are then given accurate measurements, were held by two tenants, an earlier tenant of one of the plots having already built upon by John Wise.
When surveyed in 1651 it comprised 'a garden to the south side of the manor house'
Immediately to its south lay a small close, which later in the 19th century became part of the churchyard, which may represent the garden recorded as lying to the south of the manor house in 1651.

An orchard and dovecote are also described.

In the late 13th and early 14th century the courtyard contained various buildings, there was a large gate, presumably giving entry to the courtyard. There was a very large fair barn of 6 bays of rough stone part covered with thatch and part with slate; one stable and hay barn adjacent consisting of 2 bays of rough stone building covered with thatch; a malt house and a kiln house

It is perhaps less likely that the sheepfold lay within the main yard. In 1365-6 reference is made to ‘le Stepynghous’ being repaired, but it is unclear if this is a building associated with cloth making, leather or some other trade.

<1> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

<2> Foard G.; Ballinger J.;, 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Oundle, 3.1.1.1 Burystead Manor (Report). SNN102637.

Record last edited

Jul 9 2021 9:46AM