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Summary - not yet available

Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• BISHOPS PALACE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CHAPEL (Medieval to 19th century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FARMHOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status:

• Listed Building (II*) 50579: Biggin Abbey
• SHINE (Validated): Remains of Biggin Abbey, a 13th century moated Bishop's Palace.

Full description

S4, Biggin Abbey, Grade 2. The remains of a former residence of the Bishops of Ely, converted into a farmhouse. A mansion was built on the site (which was moated) by Hugh de Northwold, Bishop of Ely, by the mid C13. Henry III, Edward I and Edward II all paid visits here. In the later C16 the manor was given up to the Crown and was turned into a farmhouse. The present building has two storeys and attics. The walls are two feet thick and covered with cement plaster; the roofs have been relaid with asbestos sheeting. The front has a stepped buttress at the NE end and a 3 window range of Mod casements. The NE gabled end has a blocked ground floor window of 2 cinquefoiled lights in a square head; above it, but only visible internally in bedroom and attic above is part of the splay of a large window. There are blocked windows on the NW Side, and 12 trefoiled light window in square head. At the apex of the NE gable is a base of a C16 - C17 chimney stack, the shaft in Mod brick. The interior has been much altered and there are Mod partitions. The ground floor is divided into four bays with heavy dividing beams. In the NE angle is a small stone stair case leading to the upper floor. There is a steep chamfered ceiling beam in one of the bedrooms. In the attic is a 'Monks Prison', it may have been used as a chapel where Mass was celebrated' in his description of the house. On the SW end of the house are 2 small cottage additions of one storey and attics, chequer brickwork fronts, the roofs tiled
01, Biggin, a small farmhouse in fair condition. As described above but not outstanding externally.
S3, The building stands in the NE corner of a former moated site occupying an almost square area of about 5 acres with a ditch up to30 feet wide. The ditch has recently been almost entirely destroyed and now only the W side exists as a 3 feet W facing scarp, together with traces of the NE corner. It is shown as complete on the Inclosure Map of 1807. The reference to the enclosing of the manor in 1276 may relate to the construction of this moat.
03, 'Especially worthy of preservation' Course of moat visible on St Joseph air photographs.
S5, A field's width distant from the River Cam at Baitsbite Lockstands one of the oldest domestic dwellings in this part of the world. Known as the Biggins not now palatial. Ditton estate made over to Ely monks under Cnut; made over to Henry, 1st Bishop of Ely, 1109 and granted to bailiff for tribute of silver and '3 horseloads of meal' to be used by the monastery in June and October established to watch Cambridge and consolidate rights in the District. Not known whether Hugh de Northwold the great builder Bishop of Ely restored or enlarged one of mansiones (?) already standing or whether the palace at Ditton entirely new foundation but some work survives in the Biggin. At the year 1251 he achieved a mansion but he may have done so very much earlier. Henry III stayed at Ditton for 3 days in 1238 and other occasions; Edward I as prince and thrice as King; Edward II 3 weeks in 1315. The crenellation carried out by Bishop Hugh de Balsham c 1276 seems to have been the final dignity bestowed upon the palace, and by 1478 the manor had declined (occupied by Dr Lempster at this time). The manor was yielded up to Elizabeth I and thenceforth the Biggin sank to a farmhouse. Since the end of the C18 the main portion of the house has been encased in cement and apart from the remaining window frames and buttresses, shows little exterior traces of its antiquity, but the twisting stone stair and a great brick chimney isolated in the centre of one of the bedrooms are still to be seen. An arch at the N end below the gable, can still be made out between the rafters and the present roof and a curious enclosed structure, traditionally known as the 'Monk's prison', may conceivably have been the chapel mentioned in Rev W Cole's MS of 1775.
R1, At TL/488-/619-, where Roman pot marked on 6 in map in 1951 small area was unploughed, in centre of field. 1970 photo shows whole field under crops, ploughed-out small hump in centre of field. Moat and associated system (R Palmer 08/05/1984)
05, We could find no traces of the moat.
R4, Biggin Abbey; Mentioned in 1260, now just the hall, on a moated site, remains with earthworks around TL/487-/617-
O6, Substantial earthworks lying to the N of present farm buildings possibly result from coprolite extraction.

Sources and further reading

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