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Summary

MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT OF CAISTOR

Full description

CAISTOR WAS NOT ONLY CENTRE OF A ROYAL SOKE IN 1086 BUT ALSO A TRADING CENTRE WHERE TOLLS WERE TAKEN. IN 1251 AN EXISTING MARKET WAS IN THE KING'S HANDS. THIS EARLY IMPORTANCE IS MATCHED TO SOME EXTENT BY ITS ROLE AS A CENTRE OF POPULATION. THE TOWN EVIDENTLY WAS REDUCED IN LATER C14 AND CONTINUED TO RECEIVE RELIEFS IN THE LATE C15. The Market Place was probably the centre of the Medieval town. {1}{7}
An excavation was carried out in 1963 in the garden of the Grimsby Cooperative Society. A possible oven was revealed, which pottery evidence suggested dated to the 12th-14th century. It appears that a ground surface was formed above it in the 15th-16th century. Adjacent to it was an undated structure, possibly wall foundations. {6}
A program of archaeological observation and recording took place during the initial groundworks for a residential development on land situated to the rear of the Red Lion Hotel, High Street, Caistor. The watching brief identified a number of medieval settlement features. These ranged from a group of walls, constructed from limestone blocks and large cobbles that formed the footings for a substantial building of 12th to 15th century date, a large limestone constructed well containing finds from the 15th to 16th century, and a possible metalled trackway constructed overlying an earlier (probably Roman) earthwork (see PRN 54976) {8} {9}
During an archaeological evaluation on land at 16 High Street (the site of the former Talbot Inn), traces of buildings pre-dating the inn were discovered. A potential construction slot was observed which probably relates to occupation along the street front during the medieval or earlier post medieval periods. There may be further remains elsewhere on the site, in areas not yet investigated, however much of the site has been heavily truncated by late post medieval or early modern terracing. {10}{11}

Monument Types

• LYNCHET (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• RIDGE AND FURROW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• TRACKWAY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• WELL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• OVEN (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1400 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Events

• Red Lion Hotel, High Street, Caistor
• Excavation in Caistor, 1964
• Archaeological evaluation on land at 16 High Street, Caistor
• Watching brief on land at 16 High Street, Caistor

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

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