Monument record 3136 - Chester On The Water

Medieval village first mentioned 1236. Demolition of 6 messuages recorded 1517. Earthwork remains of the village are much mutilated

{1} Settlement remains of Chester on the Water (SP 920669). First mentioned in 1236. In 1309 an Inquisition Post Mortem listed 24 occupants of the manor, though it is not certain that these all lived at Chester. In 1517 the Wolsey Commission recorded the demolition in 1498 of 6 messuages, rendering 36 people idle. A further 5 messuages were still occupied. 6 houses are recorded in the early 17th century. Bridges described as "anciently an hamlet of four or five houses" c.1720. The earthwork remains are much mutilated but suggest croft boundaries running SW to NE and the sites of possible buildings. 5 ruined houses of the 17th century are incorporated into the farm [SP 96 NW 7] RCHM plan.

{2} 24 villeins, tenants and cottars recorded on manor but may not all have lived in Chester itself.

{3} Wolsey Commission reported that lord of manor William Coope had demolished 6 messuages in 1498 rendering 36 people idle. 5 messuages were still left standing.

{5} "A manor with 1 house, anciently a hamlet of 4 or 5 houses."

{17} The garden of Chester Farm and the uneven earthworks to the east of the farm were surveyed using resistivity. In the garden little could be discerned, whilst to the east the anomalies generally followed the visible form of the upstanding earthworks.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.96-7 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> 1309, Inquisitions Post Mortem, (unchecked) (Document). SNN46617.

<3> 1517, Wolsey Commission, (unchecked) (Document). SNN46618.

<4> BROWN A.E., Earthworks at Chester On The Water, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN105163.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<6> 1978, Northamptonshire Past and Present (6/1), 15-19 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN59542.

<7> Cowper, T., 1756, Chester on the Water, (unchecked) (Map). SNN105156.

<8> MISC. DOCUMENTS, (unchecked) (Document). SNN57337.

<9> 1901, Second Edition OS Mapping, (checked) (Map). SNN57144.

<10> BROWN A.E., 1978, Chester On The Water, (unchecked) (Article). SNN59541.

<11> Minchinton J.A., 1990, Irchester Documentary Survey, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105797.

<12> Middleton, P & Hardie, C, 2007, Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire: Conservation Statement, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105908.

<13> Walsh A.; Meadows I., Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire: Conservation Investigation Modules 1, 2, 5 and 6, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105976.

<15> Kerr, W.J.B., 1922, Higham Ferrers and Its Ducal and Royal Castle and Park Part 2, (unchecked) (Book). SNN108294.

<16> Yates A.; Butler A., 2006, Archaeological Survey (Module 5) at Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105697.

<17> Butler A.; Meadows I.; Fisher I., 2010, Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN107215.

<18> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP (Archive). SNN113023.

<19> Historic England, Undated, Chester By the Water, BB76/02104 (Archive). SNN116240.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:36PM