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Summary

Site of Eresby Hall, a medieval manor house: This is the record for the scheduled and some non scheduled areas of the Medieval phase of this site only. Please see PRN 44149 for the post medieval phases.

Full description

PRN 43577
Eresby and Spilsby are mentioned in Domesday. Surviving earthworks may be the remnants of medieval settlement in the area. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}{6}
In 1086 the land at Eresby which was previously held by Aschil, was in the possession of the Bishop of Durham. During the 12th century the land passed though marriage to the de Bec family and in 1296 John de Bec was granted a licence to crenellate the manor of Eresby. The manor stayed in the de Bec's family until the early 14th century when it passed by marriage to the Willoughby family. In the early 16th century it again passed by marriage to Charles Brandon who built a new house on the site replacing the old manor house (see PRN 44149). {12}
In 1967 the moat was mechanically dredged and in 1968 an excavation of the area under the direction of Ethel Rudkin revealed part of the plan of the medieval manor house of the de Bec's and Willoughby's. The north bastion with buttresses and a length of curtain wall dating to the 13th century was revealed, together with some fragmentary remains of internal buildings which are difficult to interpret. The excavations recovered much evidence of refurbishment or rebuilding in the mid 15th century. Consisting of sandstone foundations for a brick building of which some well fired but undersized bricks were recovered. Large pieces of moulded stone were recovered from the moat and other debris from this area suggests that the kitchen once stood here and adjacent to it was the tiled floor of the great hall. Finds recovered include medieval green glazed pottery and a earthenware leg from an equestrian statue. The leg measures approximately 23cm in height and 9cm in width, the complete statue would have measured about 60cm and it has been conjectured that it may have been a statue of Lord Robert Willoughby. {7}{8}
Part of a brick wall standing up to 1m in height is still visible above ground. {12}

<01> OS CARD INDEX, TF 36 NE:7,1964, FH (Index). SLI2745.

<02> HBMC, 1970, AM 7, SAM 243 (Scheduling Record). SLI4098.

<03> William White, 1872, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Third Edition, p.177 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI887.

<04> J. Charles Cox, 1924, Little Guide: Lincolnshire (Second Edition), p.282 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI896.

<05> C.W. Foster and T. Longley, 1924, Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey, VOL 19, p.LXXVI (Bibliographic Reference). SLI893.

<06> J.K.S. St Joseph, 1945-79, Cambridge University Collection, FV28-30,1951, (Aerial Photograph). SLI175.

<07> William White, 1856, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Second Edition, pp.788-789 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI886.

<08> MARJORAM, J., 1984, A PROSPECT OF LINCOLNSHIRE, pp.79-88 (Article in Monograph). SLI68.

<09> 1970, CITY AND COUNTY MUSEUM COLLECTION 1970, LCNCC 131.70 (Artefact). SLI44.

<10> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, National Mapping Programme, TF 39 65 :LI.98.2.1-2, 1993 (Map). SLI3613.

<11> 1946-98, RCHME, 5166/11 (Aerial Photograph). SLI193.

<12> English Heritage, 11/10/2001, Eresby Hall: the remains of a post-medieval house and gardens overlying a medieval manor house, SAM 33133 (Scheduling Record). SLI7137.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Post Medieval - 1000 AD? to 1540 AD?)
• MOAT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1086 AD to 1540 AD?)
• WALL (Medieval - 1400 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Associated Finds

• DRESSED STONE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• STATUE (Medieval to Unknown - 1450 AD?)

Associated Events

• Eresby Hall Moat.

Protected Status

• SHINE
• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

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