Monument record 4180/1/1 - Site of probable manor house, Hall Close

The site of a medieval manor house, indicated by earthworks at the south end of a field known locally as Hall Close. At least two rectangular sunken platforms, probably former building sites, are visible. Thought to have been extant until the end of the 18th century. An excavation undertaken in 2003 at the south end of Hall Close identified several stone-built buildings including the possible manor house itself and a dovecote.

{1} Site of Manor House (SP 77809146), in the centre of the village, on gravel at 70 m. above OD. At the S. end of the field known locally as Hall Close is a series of low earthworks of no overall coherent form, although at least two rectangular sunken platforms, probably former building sites, are visible. The remains are bounded on the N. by a shallow ditch up to 5 m. wide. The site is traditionally the remains of a manor house (J. Bridges, Hist. of Northants., II (1791), 359). It was devoid of all buildings in 1802 (NRO, Enclosure Map).

{2} Field Name: Hall Close.

{3} The area was devoid of buildings in 1802.

{4} Earthwork survey and trial trench excavation were undertaken in 2002. Part of a 13th century stone building and associated cobbled surface were identified in the eastern part of the site. Evidence that it had a stone roof with glazed ridge tiles indicated that it was of relatively high status. Although the function of the building could not be established it is likely to relate to the manor of Weston by Welland. The building remains were sealed by demolition rubble that corresponded to visible earthwork features suggesting that further structural remains lay to the south of Trench 3.

{5} Earthworks have been recorded in this field. Two probable house platforms lie within this field bounded on the north by a shallow 5m wide ditch and was interpreted as a manor site. The field was traditionally recorded as the site of the manor by the late 18th century antiquarian John Bridges and a late 18th century view of the village recorded this field as ‘Hall Close’ and the field to the south as ‘Dove House Close’.

An excavation was undertaken within the area of Dovehouse Close, revealing extensive high status building remains. The excavation comprised two areas; Area A to the west and Area B, the larger, to the east.

The earliest features were two late Saxon ditches.

Two limestone and sandstone block buildings recorded in Areas A and B respectively are the earliest substantially built stone structures on the site and are likely to have been constructed between 1200-1250 AD. They appear to be the precursor to the manor house constructed in the later medieval period. The full extent of these buildings is unclear due to later truncation and robbing out of the walls. However, the building in the western excavation area may have measured up to 11m long x 7m wide. If this assumption is correct it would imply that structure contained at least three rooms although the function of these areas is uncertain. Although on the small size in terms of length this is in keeping with other stone buildings of the period including the Norman manor house at Boothby Pagnell in Lincolnshire that measures c. 17m x 7.7m and Hatfield Manor House, South Yorkshire measuring 15.8m x 9m. Demolition material suggests that the building was roofed with Collyweston slate, rather than thatch, in keeping with the earliest documented date for its use.

The next phase of building occured in the later 13th century. Due to the limit of the area of excavation, building (874), within the western Area A, was not fully exposed. The limited area uncovered revealed a limestone block wall and hearth that was dated to 1410-1535. It is plausible that this room was connected to the structures in Area B and formed a range of buildings set around a courtyard, similar in style to the earlier 11th – 12th century manorial complex at West Cotton (Gaimster et al. 1989, 205).

Documentary evidence from 1385 describes part of the manor as ‘a great chamber in the hall of the manor; a house called ‘le bakhows’ and ‘le brewhows’; the eastern part of the garden, to wit, from the head of the great fish-pond to the enclosure of the churchyard, with free entry and exit by the gates called the ‘wateryates’; a small barn in ruins called ‘Ladysbarn’; a third part of numerous fields and lands’ (Calendar of Inquisitions Post-Mortem September 12th 1385).

The inclusion of a hall, kitchen and dovecote suggests that this was a high status building and the known manor house of Weston by Welland. Documentary evidence indicates that it was held by the Basset family. The archaeological evidence however, suggest that the manor was not as extensive as other manors of the period and not likely to be the Basset’s primary residency, although the manor was still constructed to a high standard with glazed windows and a large fireplace. However, it is important to stress that buildings are likely to have gone beyond the excavated area. The buildings were demolished during the post-medieval period, probably between the 16th and 17th century, with several of the walls being intentionally robbed out and the site given over to pasture or agriculture.

A dovehouse which was constructed of irregular limestone and ironstone block surface, this measured approximately 4m in diameter. Lies to the south of the main range of buildings.

{7} Drawing of Weston looking south towards the church. The field adjacent to the church is known as Dove House Close in 1798.

{8} Documentary references to the medieval manor house of Weston by Welland. According to Bridges a manor house stood here. [Also traces the descent of the manor from the 12th to the 17th centuries.]

{9} SP 7780 9146: Field name 'Hall Close' identified (pointed out on ground). It is local tradition that the manor house stood within the field but an exact site is not known.

{10} The field indicated is a somewhat uneven pasture crossed by footpaths. No trace of a building site was seen.

{11} Report of Authority 3 acceptable.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.170 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP79SE17 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> 1802, Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN48629.

<4> Albone J., 2002, Archaeological Evaluation on Land Off Valley Road, Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN102324.

<5> Rayner T., 2006, Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief on Land Off Valley Road, Weston By Welland, Northamptonshire (WVR03) (Report). SNN105854.

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

<7> John Scott, 1798, A North View of Weston (Drawing). SNN110219.

<8> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.359 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<9> Woodhouse, W C, 1959, Field investigators comments, F1 WCW 27-SEP-1959 (Notes). SNN113006.

<10> Woodhouse, W C, 1959, Field investigators comments, F2 WCW 28-SEP-1959 (Notes). SNN113006.

<11> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F3 JB 19-MAR-1970 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Mar 7 2022 4:56PM