Monument record 6651 - Grafton Regis hermitage and possible manor

A beneficed hermitage or small priory stood near Shaw Wood at the extremity of the lordship of Grafton Regis, bordering on Stoke and Alderton, and was dedicated to St Mary and St Michael. The first reference to it was made between 1180 and 1205, and its independent life was supposed to have ceased at the end of the fourteenth century when it became amalgamated with the Austin abbey of St James. Excavation was carried out in 1964 over the whole area, revealing a plan more in keeping with a monastery. The buildings were arranged around a cloister with the church on its South side, the kitchen area was in a second block to the West, near a large building thought to be for baking and brewing. A barn or hospital and circular dovecot were away from the main complex. The buildings continued in use until the late 15th cent, and have been interpreted as the hermitage/priory which is the only documented religious building in the area. The plan of the claustral complex shows a poorly developed site, and suggests that the Woodvilles, who were landowners, developed the site for domestic purposes in the 15th century. The cloister, in particular seems to have been replaced by a structure with a hearth.

{1} In one of the smaller rooms was a hoard of eight silver coins of Edward IV. Stone buildings of several periods in the kitchen area with pottery ranging from the 13th to 17th centuries. A large circular foundation may represent the base of a large oven and a smaller oven lay in the angle of two walls.

{2} The only documented religious house in the area was the priory of the hermitage of St. Mary and St. Michael, thought to lie at Shutlanger, some 2 miles away. This priory was normally, however, described as the 'Hermitagium de Grafton' and perhaps after all, was situated here. It was founded in the late 12th century, and flourished under Woodville patronage in the late 13th and early 14th century. However, by the late 14th century the house was in serious decline and in 1442 the land was transferred back to the abbey of St. James in Northampton. It was never thereafter owned by the Woodvilles, though Lord Ryvers tried to regain the priory in order to re-endow it.

Further excavations on the site of the supposed manor house have revealed a plan more in keeping with that of a monastery. The buildings were arranged around a cloister with the church on its south side. There were considerable later alterations and improvements. A new room with two hearths was built on to the west side of the claustral area though the cloister itself was removed. A tiled floor was laid in the church, its design incorporating the Woodville shield and the white rose of York, and some rooms were refloored. The kitchen area was in a separate block to the west near a large detached building containing ovens, a drying-kiln and an emplacement for a vat, which may have been used for baking and brewing. The circular foundation of a probable dovecote was also excavated. Away from the main complex was a barn or hospital.

Since excavation has shown that the site clearly was flourishing in the late 15th century, it could be that, it this was the hermitage, the Woodvilles may have obtained permission from the abbey to undertake rebuilding and were allowed to convert the buildings to their own use. There is no sign that the site was occupied after 1491, when the family died out.

{3} Site of Priory and Manor House (SP 752467) lies 300 m W of Grafton Regis village, on limestone at about 90 m. above OD. The site was fully excavated in 1964-5. Before excavation there was an area of disturbed earthworks, partly overploughed with ridge-and-furrow which terminated on a headland and ditch a little to the S of the site. Beyond the headland was a hollow-way running W from the village through the ridge-and-furrow.

{5} In 1313 the register of Bishop Oliver Sutton referred to the 'brothers and sisters and other ministers of the house'. Suggesting a mixed hermitage of men and women. The chapel as excavated measured 14.6m x 4.6m. The chapel contained burials in the east end and was screened into a short chancel and a long, aisleless nave. The chapel continued in use after the hemitage had become the manor house. The cloister was dated to the 13th century and measured 10.4m x 7.3m internally. Some of the ranges flanking the cloister were two-storey structures, approached by a staircase in the east cloister walk. In the late 15th century the cloister was sealed off and a new room built.Some of the ranges flanking the cloister were two-storey structures. A square, external projection to the north of the domestic ranges was situated over a drain, appropriate for a garderobe.

{7} A beneficed hermitage or small priory stood near Shaw Wood. It is dedicated jointly to St. Mary and St. Michael. The earliest known reference to it is the name of Helias as a witness to a grant by Walkelin, abbot of St. James, 1180-1205. Six successive masters or chaplains are recorded between 1267 and 1373. The hermitage was given back to St. James, Northampton, in 1442.

{9} Lists the house as Augustinian. From c.1400 St. James Abbey found a chaplain to serve the hermitage, which was probably disused after a dispute in 1483.

{12} Reference to donations from three local landlords for the "Hermitage of St. Mary and St. Michael" Three undated charters from the reign of Henry 111 bestowed an annual revenue of 8s 10d for the support of the "master and brothers" in perpetuity. Catalogue of the Fermor Hesketh (Easton Neston) papers (National Register of archives), no 915, grant by Robert de Twyford, witnessed by Thomas, William and Richard de Wydville (all alive in the 1240's and 1250's; BLO Bridges Ms E402 grant by William de Bonde of Alderton (witnessed by William and Richard de Videyll) and E.403 grant by E. Curry.

{14} It was not possible to visit the site because of young crop, pheasants and duck but Mrs Sergeant, Grafton House (the landowners wife) said that there was nothing remaining, and that the report of Auth {2} was correct except that there was no mention of 14 skeletons found during the excavation. Site fixed at SP 75244679.

<1> 1965, Medieval Archaeology (9), p.203 (checked) (Journal). SNN3994.

<2> 1966, Medieval Archaeology (10), 202-4 (checked) (Journal). SNN58109.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.62/Site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP74NE1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Gilchrist R., Contemplation and Action, (checked) (Extract). SNN106442.

<6> 1966, Wolverton and District Archaeological Newsletter, p. 37-38 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN19495.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.137 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<8> Grafton Regis Millennium Project, 2004, Grafton Regis, History and Heritage, (unchecked) (Compact Disk). SNN104952.

<9> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.137 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<10> Clay R.M., 1914, Hermits and Anchorites of England, p.236 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1156.

<11> GOLDBERG A., 1907, A SHORT HISTORY OF GRAFTON REGIS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN48045.

<12> 1990, Letter re Twyford Bridge and Hermitage, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN45914.

<13> Cadman G., 2000, Grafton Regis - The Hermitage, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN101183.

<14> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 14-MAY-1970 (Notes). SNN110341.

<15> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, Air Photographs (RAF CPE/UK/1926, 3243-4) (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 6:15PM