Monument record 1071 - Pipewell

The earthwork and buried remains of the medieval settlement of Pipewell. The settlement predated the neighbouring abbey (SP 88 NW 8) which was founded in 1143. The remains of the settlement include a number of low earthworks measuring 0.75 metres high, and forming at least two platforms and enclosures, defined by shallow banks and hollow ways. A small settlement, with nine households, is recorded in the Domesday survey, and it formed part of three manors, located in Stoke Hundred to the north, and Rothwell Hundred to the south of the Brook. There are no further records of the settlement, which must have been depopulated or incorporated into the abbey estates at its foundation in 1143. The inhabitants may have become labourers for the abbey or joined the monks as lay brothers. Documentary references indicate a secular population continued on the abbey estates. Scheduled.

{1} Deserted medieval village of Pipewell; the recorded population at Domesday was nine, divided between three manors. There was perhaps settlement on both sides of Harper's Brook. In 1143 the foundation of the abbey at Pipewell probably swept away some of the village. Tenants are recorded in 1291 and in 1674 two people paid Hearth Tax. In the early 15th century the houses and buildings of the village were said to be ruinous and had been abandoned due to the barrenness of the land. By 1720 there were twenty inhabitants, and in 1841 there were 121 residents.

{5} The DMV of Pipewell, SP 837856. The Domesday Survey records a population of 9 for the village in 1086, and it seems probable that it was deserted in 1143 when the Cistercian Abbey (SP 88 NW 8) was founded. In 1547 the area was used for sheep pasture, but in 1674 there were two houses recorded there. The population increased, and in 1841, had reached 121.
(Nothing clearly visible on APs only probable remains of quarrying).
Monastic site extending into two parishes. West Grange (not now identifiable) built on site of former hamlet. In 1291 court still held at West grange. Cistercian Abbey founded 1143 has site further east, beside East Grange, on land assarted from woods. By Dissolution abbey had 196a. arable, 55a. meadow, and 443a. pasture; Middle and West Fields at West Grange were part arable, part pasture,. IN 1547 whole rea maintained 800 sheep.

{6} Ecclesiastically, Pipewell was divided between the parishes of Rushton, Great Oakley and Wilbarston, with a large tract of woodland lying within Rockingham Forest. A detailed written survey of 1778 gives 1,178 acres in Wilbarston (including 79 acres of common ground, mainly Capers Lawn and 346 acres of purlieu coppices), 333 in Rushton and 147 in Great Oakley.

{7} The earthworks published at SP 838856 are mainly quarrying with the odd service road. No remains identifidable as desertion seen.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.172/Site 8 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP88NW7 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.322+333+340 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.119 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.45 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<6> Foard, G.; Hall, D. & Partida, T., 2009, Rockingham Forest: An atlas of the medieval and early-modern landscape, p. 258-259 (Book). SNN106598.

<7> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, 24/Jul (Notes). SNN111907.

<8> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF VAP F21 82/RAF/865, 0235-6; F22 540/RAF/1312 0099-0101 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<9> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, CUAP, AEV 42 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:06PM