Monument record 718/1 - Probable Medieval/Post Medieval Farm, possibly Luffield Priory Grange

Earthworks of a possible medieval forest-edge farmstead visible on 1947 aerial photographs, now destroyed. Documentary evidence suggests that these earthworks were the remains of Luffield Priory Grange

{1} Earthworks, now ploughed and under pasture. Possibly a manorial site?

{2} Deserted farmstead, completely destroyed by modern cultivation and returned to pasture, but air photos from 1947 show a roughly rectangular enclosure, orientated north west to south east, 150m by 90m bounded by a low bank and outer ditch. The interior was divided into at least 2 paddocks and in the north corner there was an area of disturbed ground perhaps indicating the positions of former buildings. Ridge and furrow lay along the west edge. The earthworks were probably the site of a medieval forest-edge farmstead.

{3} Examination of medieval documents contained in the Luffield Cartulary and the 1608 map of Whittlewood Forest enabled the identification of the site of the Monksbarn Grange and later manor, previously identified as a medieval forest-edge farmstead. A lease dated 1376 describes some of the buildings, 'those buildings called halls, three bays long southwards extending to the north and one and a half bays in the other building towards the north'. Fieldwalking on the grange site produced only a single sherd of medieval pottery.

{4} The indicated site has been ploughed and is now under pasture; no surveyable remains of the earthwork remain and it was not possible to determine its' nature

{5} At SP 6993 4509 is a rectangular earthwork with shallow ditch and internal bank. It is at the end of a lane leading
westwards from Paulerspury. ?Manorial

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NE4 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.169/Site 7 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Jones, R., 2003, The Luffield Priory Grange at Monksbarn, Whittlebury, Northants (Article). SNN103923.

<4> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 29-JAN-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<5> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, AP's (RAF CPE/UK/1926 3235,6 16.1.46 (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:56PM