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| Name: | Rochford Tower |
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| HER Number: | 10035 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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Summary
Rochford Tower
| Grid Reference: | TF 350 444 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF34SE |
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| Parish: | FISHTOFT, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE |
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Full description
PRN 10035
A late 15th to early 16th century brick structure, with stone windows, embattled parapet and corner stairway, that is now derelict. There are considerable foundations in the enclosure adjacent to the tower. The tower takes its name from the Rochford family mentioned as early as 1274. Sir Ralph Rochford was living here in 1390. The present tower was probably built about 1504, when the property was granted to the Abbot of Westminster. An adjoining house of that period was taken down in 1807. From about 1600 until 1816, the property was owned by the Kyme family and became known as Kyme Tower. It is published as such on the Ordnance Survey 1 inch map of 1824. It is scheduled as Rochford Tower. Cropmarks both rectangular and circular are visible on an aerial photograph at TF 350446 and possibly indicate associated structures. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}
It is surrounded by ploughland and no evidence of buildings was seen. {1}
In 1975 dressed stone blocks were found near the tower at TF 352447, measuring 38cm by 30cm. {7}
There was an excavation of a possible moat in 1967 but this is unpublished. {8}
A red-brick tower resembling Hussey Tower at Boston (PRN 10029): both are humbler progeny of Tattershall Castle (PRN 43561), in the tower-house tradition. The date is about 1450-60. It has an embattled parapet, turrets corbelled out at the angles and the octagonal stair at the south-east angle communicates with three floors. Some windows are of stone, and two have a little tracery. There is a brick-vaulted ground-floor room or basement. In the first-floor room there are traces of wall paintings, now very weathered showing St Anne teaching the Virgin, the Annunciation, St Michael, St Anthony, and a coat of arms supported by angels. {10}
The scheduling was revised 16/04/1999. {13}
Monument Types
- ENCLOSURE (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
- FORTIFIED HOUSE (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
- MOAT (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
- TOWER (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
Associated Events
- Excavation at Rochford Tower
- Site visit to Rochford Tower
Protected Status
- Listed Building
- Scheduled Monument
Sources and further reading
| <1> | Index: OS CARD INDEX. FISHTOFT. TF 34 SE:1,1965, D.A. |
| <2> | Bibliographic reference: THOMPSON, P.. 1856. The Histories and Antiquities of Boston. P 318-322 |
| <3> | Article in serial: TROLLOPE, E.. 1970. Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. VOL 10 P 207 |
| <4> | Scheduling record: MINISTRY OF WORKS. MOW 819. 1940:11:A P 4 |
| <5> | Index: HBMC. 1961. ANCIENT MONUMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. 63 |
| <6> | Aerial Photograph: 1950. 6:541:568; 3166-7 |
| <7> | Index: SMR FILE. FISHTOFT. TF 34 SE:B,1965, BULLIVANT G |
| <8> | Unpublished document: Ministry of Housing and Local Gov
Ministry of Housing and Local Government. 1967. MHLG. FISHTOFT. - |
| <9> | Aerial Photograph: AO:65:38;1&2 |
| <10> | Bibliographic reference: Pevsner, N., and Harris, J., with Antram, N.. 1989. Buildings of England (second edition). Lincolnshire. 2nd Rev Edn p278 |
| <11> | Photograph: PARISH FILE. FISHTOFT. - |
| <12> | Unpublished document: RCHM. 1992. ROCHFORD TOWER BUILDING REPORT. NBR 87308 |
| <13> | Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1999. Revised scheduling document 31626. MPP 23 |
Related records
| 12749 | Related to: MEDIEVAL POTTERY FOUND, NEAR ROCHFORD TOWER, FISHTOFT (Monument) |
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