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Summary

Remains of moated manor at Kyme, including the Kyme Tower

Full description

60732
To the south of the priory church at South Kyme there are the earthwork remains of a moated enclosure, which surrounded a medieval manor house. The earthworks were still said to be holding water in 1856. Near the centre of the moat stand the remains of a fortified manor house built by the Umfravilles in the mid-fourteenth century, including a fortified tower, which is extant. {5}{7}
The site may also have been the location of the pre-Conquest manor of Earl Morcar, close to the possible site of the suggested early monastic foundation. By the time of the Domesday Book the estate was in the hands of the King, and subsequently it passed to the Kyme family, and they held it as a demesne manor until it was acquired by the Umfraville family. Consequently the moat may be earlier than the fourteenth century manor house. {6}
The tower at South Kyme is a fine piece of architecture, 23 metres high, almost square and built in approximately 1340, of Barnack stone. It consists of a basement storey, vaulted with eight chamfered ribs converging to an octagonal cusped panel in the centre serving as a boss. Above are three other rooms reached by a staircase in the turret, which is covered with carved stone vaulting. The tower is the last above ground remains of a baronial mansion with four towers and an inner court. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {1}{2}{3}{8}
In Leland's time there was a 'goodly house and parke', but the castle was pulled down between 1720 and 1725, and the material used to build several farmhouses. Chimney pieces were bought for Blankney Hall. {9}

<1> MINISTRY OF WORKS, MOW 819, SAM 42 (Scheduling Record). SLI4240.

<2> TROLLOPE, E., SOUTH KYME AND ITS CASTLE, - (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1105.

<3> KENT et al, 1872, SLEAFORD etc, - (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1053.

<4> KIRK C, 1881, 'Kyme and its tower' in Associated Architectural and Archaeological Societies’ Reports and Papers, VOL 16 P 27-31 (Article in Serial). SLI356.

<5> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1994, REVISED SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 22622, MPP22 (Scheduling Record). SLI4253.

<6> R.H. Healey and D.R. Roffe, Some Medieval and Later Earthworks in South Lincolnshire, pp.97-99, Figs 76 and 77 (Unpublished Document). SLI4819.

<7> William White, 1856, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Second Edition, page 448-449 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI886.

<8> Department of the Environment, 1990, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 413.002, 7/14 (Index). SLI7773.

<9> SMR FILE, TF 14 NE:A,C (Index). SLI3276.

<10> OS CARD INDEX, TF 14 NE:2 (Index). SLI2736.

<11> J.K.S. St Joseph, 1945-79, Cambridge University Collection, BT64 (23/7/48); JZ85,86 (15/7/52) (Aerial Photograph). SLI175.

<12> AEROSCAN, Aeroscan aerial photographs, - (Aerial Photograph). SLI167.

<13> Untitled Source, - (Aerial Photograph). SLI156.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1340 AD to 1720 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1340 AD to 1539 AD)
• TOWER (Medieval to Modern - 1340 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Events

• Earthwork survey of moat earthworks
• Site visit to Kyme tower
• Site visit to Kyme Priory earthworks
• Aerial photos of South Kyme Priory
• Aerial photos of Priory and manor site

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument
• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

Related records

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