Monument record 676 - Sulby

The earthwork and buried remains of the known extent of the medieval settlement of Old Sulby. The earthwork remains include a broad hollow way, on either side of which are the remains of several crofts and tofts. Scheduled.

{1} Deserted 1350-1450 manor sold after 1215 to Sulby Abbey. At Dissolution 300 acres arable, 880 acres pasture. Leased by John Hales, gent then granted to C Hatton. In 1547 used by Lady Lane for flock of 2000 sheep.

{2} One portion of this DMV which is ploughed- a thin strip of land lying to the west of the trackway to Welford, on the south-western periphery of the village. There are traces of rectangular earthwork enclosures, with parallel sides, in the ploughed land, part of a series which stretches along the whole length of this street, as well as a scatter of stone within them. Fieldwalking of this strip found shelly wares of Lyveden type of 13th and 14th century date, sandy buff wares of the same period, and hard buff and grey wares of 15th century date, nothing later.

{4} Earthworks at Sulby SP 653816, well preserved though overploughed with ridge and furrow. Sulby first recorded in Domesday as two manors (one waste, one with a recorded population of 13). The waste manor was held by Geoffrey de Wirce and may have been the original site of Sulby Abbey [SP 68 SE]. The Abbey acquired the village in 1215. Village probably depopulated between 1377 and 1428, 2000 sheep graze in the area in 1547. Earthworks include a N-S hollow-way up to 1m deep. 6 closes to the W have been overploughed while others seem to have encroached upon the hollow-way, perhaps suggesting alterations to the village form. The SW corner of the earthworks has been recently ploughed revealing a long stip of stony ground. C12th to C14th pottery including Lyveden ware has been recovered. [RCHM plan and photographs];

{5} [Area centred SP 65468160]. The earthworks of a considerable DMV are visible in a rough pasture and are known as 'Old Sulby' locally. There is no evidence of a moat within the area but some of the deeper, former roads are known as 'The Moats', a local descriptive usage for earthworks - see SP 68 SW 9. There are several well-defined roads with associated crofts and enclosures.
No finds were made.

{6} In Sulby, in 1377, 89 paid poll tax; in 1428 there were fewer than ten households remaining.

{9} Management agreement reached from 9/3/87 TO 8/3/97.

NCCAP:SP6581/7-13;PLAN:(1)(4);

{10} In 1981 the Midland Village Research Group listed the DMV as a recommended site for preservation.

{11} There is a moated site near Sulby known as Old Sulby - or was if it was not destroyed during aerodrome construction in 1942'.

{13} For the site of the village church, see SP 68 SE 6. Surveyed 4-8/7/6. No change.

<1> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<2> BROWN A.E., 1997, Fieldwalking Ploughed deserted Villages in Northamptonshire (Report). SNN62296.

<3> MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT RESEARCH GROUP, 1996, Annual Report, Sulby/p.45 (Annual Report). SNN105122.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, 343, 347, 184-6 (Series). SNN77381.

<5> WW, 1960, Field Investigators Comments (Note). SNN111457.

<6> Beresford M.W., 1954, The Lost Villages of England, p.368 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN7102.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.596 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP68SE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> 1990, Note re Management Agreement (Stewardship?), (unchecked) (Note). SNN13314.

<10> 1981, Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.29), p. 42 (Annual Report). SNN13022.

<11> Annotated Record Map, Rec. 6" (Leic. 54 NW) Anon. untd.) (Map). SNN112961.

<12> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889343 (Archive). SNN112900.

<13> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, 16/Jan (Note). SNN111452.

<14> Feudal Aids, p. 52 (Document). SNN46144.

<15> PRO series E179, E179/155/3 E179/155/28 E179/155/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<16> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, CUAP XT81 AEB24-5 AGU68-9 AKP44-5 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<17> Royal Air Force, 1940s, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP CPE/UK2109 4302-3 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105266.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 2:56PM