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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 the later 14th centruy and continued to receive reliefs in the late 15th century. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}

The Market Place was probably the centre of the medieval town. {6}

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. {7}

A number of medieval settlement features were identified during the archaeological monitoring of groundworks for a residential development on land situated to the rear of the Red Lion Hotel, High Street, Caistor (PRN 52691a - TA 1178 0139). The recorded features included 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 earthwork of probable Roman date (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 (PRN 52691b - TA 1182 0145). 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}

Evidence of medieval occupation was recorded in 2010, during the archaeological monitoring of groundworks for a proposed extension to Caistor Grammar School (PRN 52691c - TA 1151 0128). Archaeological remains, including two ditches containing finds of animal bone and medieval pottery were recorded. {12}{13}

A buried soil layer was revealed in September 2013, during the archaeological monitoring of the installation of new services to the rear of The Old Vicarage, Church Street, Caistor (PRN 52691d - TA 1174 0129). Although no dateable material was recovered, the deposit was thought to be of likely medieval date, due to its depth and stratigraphical relationship to overlying yard surfaces of probable 19th century date (see PRN 55638). {14}{15}

<1> P.L. Everson, C.C. Taylor and C.J. Dunn, 1991, Change and Continuity: Rural Settlement in North-West Lincolnshire, Archive Notes (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1063.

<2> RUSSELL, R.C. AND RUSSELL, E., 1987, PARLIAMENTARY ENCLOSURE AND NEW LINCOLNSHIRE LANDSCAPES, pp.53-7 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1090.

<3> Paul Everson and Tom Hayes, 1984, 'Lincolnshire from the Air' in A Prospect of Lincolnshire, p.40 (Article in Monograph). SLI64.

<4> PARISH FILE, - (Photograph). SLI3786.

<5> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, National Mapping Programme, TA1101-1201: LI.237.6-8.1,1993, (Map). SLI3613.

<6> North Lincolnshire Archaeological Unit, 1989, Caistor Archaeological Resource Map, - (Unpublished Document). SLI5996.

<7> Hunter, Keith, 1964, Interim Report of Excavation in Caistor, 1964, - (Unpublished Document). SLI5488.

<8> Pre-Construct Archaeology, June 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief at the Red Lion Hotel, Caistor, RLHC03 (Report). SLI9430.

<9> Pre-Construct Archaeology, June 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief at the Red Lion Hotel, Caistor, LCNCC 2004.63 (Archive). SLI9431.

<10> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2009, Land at 16 High Street, Caistor: An Archaeological Evaluation, HSC08 (Report). SLI12899.

<11> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2009, Land at 16 High Street, Caistor: An Archaeological Evaluation, LCNCC 2009.6 (Archive). SLI12900.

<12> Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd, 2011, Caistor Grammar School, Caistor: Food Technology Suite/Music Teaching Facilities Extension, PCAS site code: CGSF10 (Report). SLI14429.

<13> Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd, 2011, Caistor Grammar School, Caistor: Food Technology Suite/Music Teaching Facilities Extension, LCNCC 2010.32 (Archive). SLI14430.

<14> Neville Hall, 2013, The Old Vicarage, Church Street, Caistor, NH site code: OVCA13 (Report). SLI14844.

<15> Neville Hall, 2013, The Old Vicarage, Church Street, Caistor, LCNCC 2013.177 (Archive). SLI14845.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1400 AD)
• LAYER (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• 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)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1400 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
• Caistor Grammar School, Caistor: Food Technology Suite/Music Teaching Facilities Extension
• The Old Vicarage, Church Street, Caistor

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument
• Conservation Area
• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records

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