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Summary

The remains of a timber palisade were excavated at St Peter's Church in 1983. These defences were strengthened by a major ditch shortly afterwards. This defensive line may have originally extended for 950 metres, from the marsh to Caistor Road.

Monument Types

• PALISADE DITCH (MED:C12, Medieval - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)

Protected Status - None

Associated Finds - None

Associated Events

• Excavations at St Peter's Church, 1978-1983 (Ref: NMR 645666)

Full description

Excavations at the eastern end of St Peter's church in 1983 revealed a substantial 12th century defensive ditch.

The ditch was preceded by a timber palisade, which was 2m east of an earlier Saxo-Norman boundary ditch. The palisade was a substantial construction, with posts set into a 1.5m deep trench. This defenside line may have incorporated the east end of the church, as its projected line would have met the north wall of the Norman chancel. Alternatively, it may have curved to meet the north-eastern corner.

The palisade was short-lived, and was superseded by a substantial defensive ditch. It was dug to the east of the palisade line, and cut through it in places. The ditch curved around the eastern end of the chancel. Only the western side of the ditch was investigated, as the remainder lay beyond the churchyard wall in Tyrwhitt Hall garden. The ditch had a steep, V-shaped profile. Its minimum depth was 4.8m, and the width was estimated at a minimum 9m. It seems to have been backfilled after a relatively short period, with upcast material from a temporary rampart on the western side going back into the ditch. This rapmart must have been piled up against the Norman chancel, incorporating the church into the defences. The church tower would have been a useful observation post in this area.

A conjectural reconstruction of the entire line of this ditch was put forward in the excavation report. The northern line was represented by Pasture Road, which may have developed from a trackway in the base of the ditch, and continued northwards until it met marshy land. To the south, the line may have followed a pathway shown on 19th century plans running between the churchyard and Tyrwhitt Hall. One 1840s plan named it as 'Waste Lane.' Further projection to the south meets Barrow Road, thence to a known earthwork still visible in the 20th century, known as 'The Fosse'. This could equate to the 'fossati' mentioned in the Bardney Cartulary in 1139-40. Heselden's map of 1835 also shows this alignment, but names it as part of the 'Castle Dykes.' The southern terminal of this ditch line would have been at the point where Caistor Road meets Eastfield Road.

This conjectural line of defence was linked with the 12th century period of civil war, when King Stephen was challenged by his cousin Matilda. In the Barton area there was conflict between the lord of Barton, Gilbert de Gant, and the Lord of Holderness, the Count of Aumale. Aumale had a motte and bailey castle at Barrow upon Humber, so the immediate threat to Barton was from the east. [1, 2]

<1> Rodwell, W and Atkins, C, 2011, St Peter's Barton upon Humber: A Parish Church and its Community, 47-8, 51, Figs 19, 29 (BOOK). SLS4701.

<2> Rodwell, W and Atkins, C, 2011, St Peter's Barton upon Humber: A Parish Church and its Community, 609-611, Figs 680-684 (BOOK). SLS4702.

Sources and further reading

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