Monument record 4210/1 - The Hermitage

Farmhouse on the site of a monastic grange of Pipewell Abbey, extant in the 13th century. The farmhouse was built in the 17th century. The only remains of the grange appear to be slight traces of a moat. Trial trench excavation immediately to the west of The Hermitage found a large ditch that may be the remains of the moat.

{1} Moat and Cemetery (?) (SP 78318537), lie on the south edge of the parish, on the north side of the A6, immediately east of The Hermitage, on the summit of a narrow east-west ridge on Boulder Clay at 152 m. above OD. The moat is probably the site of a monastic grange of Pipewell Abbey (Wilbarston (9)) which is known to have been rebuilt in 1298 {5}. The area of modern fields immediately to the east and south of Hermitage Wood was apparently not part of the common fields of the parish and may be the original land of the medieval farm. The moated site is now almost destroyed, and only the west part remains. It seems to have consisted of two conjoined rectangular enclosures, bounded and separated by a ditch 25 m.—40 m. across and 1.5 m. deep. An old house within it was pulled down in 1863, and a former chapel at its east end is said to have been demolished at the end of the 17th century. Further east again, now the site of the modern farm, there was a cemetery.

{2} The Hermitage House is a moated and buttressed house between Desborough and Dingley. A chapel stood at its E end but was pulled down about 15 years ago, and a possible cemetery stands to the E of the chapel site, outside the moated area. The chapel was dedicated to St Augustine, pilgrimages were made to it and masses were held.

{3}The medieval chapel building stood at the east of the house. It was pulled down in the late 18th century. The buttressed house was pulled down in the mid 19th century.

{4} There are no early architectural remains in the present house.

{5} This is probably the building mentioned elsewhere (p10) by Bridges {2} as the grange built by the monks of Pipewell at Braybrooke (adjoining parish), and by Cox {10?} as the grange at Braybrooke rebuilt by the cellarer of Pipewell, Andrew de Roywell, who became abbot in 1298.

{6} Hermitage-House is now a farmhouse, it was a very ancient building, rebuilt in 1863 (The name 'Hermitage Wood' remains. Nothing visible on APs).

{9} A few enclosures survive at east & west of farm but most of the site lies under it. Not yet identified historically [?], The Hermitage. Bank and ditch earthworks observed. (RFP Rapid Survey?)

{11} The house appears to have a 17th-century main block built of stone, refronted later; and a brick rear extension which is probably the 19th-century rebuilding. No early architectural remains were seen. In the grounds immediately to the west are the remains of the moat, see annotated 25". The site of the cemetery was not determined.

{12} Trial trench excavation undertaken to the north-east of the presumed area of the monastic grange. Two large ditches were identified; both contained finds dating to the 18th to 20th centuries. They may be medieval in origin and be associated with the moated enclosures, but no direct evidence was found. There was no evidence for the cemetery purportedly located in the area of the modern farm.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 10/site 5 (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.284 (checked) (Book). SNN77326.

<3> Clay R.M., 1914, Hermits and Anchorites of England, p.236 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1156.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76NE11 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.118 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<6> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.784; (checked) (Book). SNN1002.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1824, First Edition Ordnance Survey 1 Inch Map Series (Sheet 44), 1ST EDN/NO44 (Map). SNN42154.

<8> 1839, Brampton Ash Tithe Map (NRO T166), (unchecked) (Map). SNN102452.

<9> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Brampton Ash/Site 1 (Database). SNN102279.

<10> COX T., 1700, TOPOGRAPHICAL ECCLESIASTICAL & NATURAL HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (Book). SNN4360.

<11> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments (Notes). SNN111907.

<12> Humphreys, M, 2023, Archaeological Evaluation Report: Trial Trenching on land at The Hermitage, Desborough, Northamptonshire, https://doi.org/10.5284/1119549 (Report). SNN115417.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:16PM