Monument record 3272/3 - Medieval Manor

Earthworks situated on the south-east side of the village are probably those of the main manor of Bozeat known as Latimers. It had been demolished by the 18th century when the area was known as Berry Yard (more recently Bury Yard Field).

{1} "The present manor house is a good old building situated on a hill declining southward; the old manor house stood westward in a close of circa 16 acres named Berry Yard; the remains of it are visible"

{2} RCHME apparently incorrectly locates Berry Yard at SP90855895

{3} Berry Yard is an area of circa 12 acres

{4} Terrier mentions "one road under le Bury" & "one acre beneath the Bury"

{6} Appears to confuse two separate manor sites. The enclosure and fieldname maps and Bridges all relate to this site

{7} The field is called Berry Yards in 1799 (NRO Inclosure Map) and is that referred to in the early 18th century by Bridges as a 16 acre field, site of the old manor house, the remains of which were still visible. “Le Bury” is referred to as early as 1343 when “one rood under le Bury” and “one acre beneath bury” are mentioned in a terrier.
In 1737 the Berry Yard was on inclosed pasture held by Elizabeth Wiseman who in 1729 occupied the existing manor house referred to by Bridges as lying the eastern part of the village. An unlocated manor in the parish, which could be this site, is said to have comprised a messuage, vineyard, garden, pigeon house, and fishpond.

The earthworks are divided from the open field by a boundary bank with an entrance midway along its length. The area of the manor is divided into three by linear banks which were sectioned and shown to be surmounted by a limestone wall c.0.5m wide and surviving to a height of 0.3m. A hollow way running up the slope from the east provided access to the site from the rest of the village. Sections shows it ran in a natural hollow, and that there were two phases of metalling. The lower contained a single sherd, probably of 13th or 14th century date. The second phase consisted of very large squared stone and a large dressed stone lintel. This stone clearly derives from a stone structure of some importance, and could conceivably derive from the manor itself.

The manor itself lies to the south and has been seriously disturbed by post medieval limestone quarries. The main embanked square enclosure has been partially destroyed, particularly on its south east and north west sides by the quarries, as indeed may much of the interior. However, the gap in the large bank on the east side does seem to represent a genuine entrance. The few finds from the road cutting (3272/3/0), including limestone roof slates, ridge tile with finial, and fragments of small column shaft, recovered primarily from the quarry fill does suggest a very substantial structure of medieval date in the immediate vicinity, almost certainly within this square enclosure. A section cut through one quarry pit demonstrated that the small bank immediately to the north had not been disturbed, showing that a limited amount of structural evidence could survive.

<1> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<2> Foard, G., 1978, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51372.

<3> 1799, Bozeat Inclosure Map (NRO Map 2839), (unchecked) (Map). SNN293.

<4> 1342, TERRIER OF TOWN PROPERTY, (unchecked) (Document). SNN2971.

<5> Foard, G., Earthwork Survey of Berry Yard, Bozeat, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN59856.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 4 site 15 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<7> Foard, G., Berry Yard, Bozeat, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN51759.

Record last edited

Oct 17 2024 4:23PM