Record Details

Summary

The earthwork remains of a deserted medieval village settlement, part of which is scheduled. Ridge and furrow earthworks also survive in the southern part of the settlement area. (see also PRN 00945 and 00948).

Monument Type(s):

• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Early Medieval - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• RIDGE AND FURROW (MEDIEVAL - 1066 AD to 1485 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST2793 - A desk based assessment of White Kights Cottage, Croxall Road, Lichfield, July-August 2015. (Ref: Document Ref: 2015/1271)
• EST2790 - Test pitting and a strip, map and record investigation at White Knights Cottage, Croxall Road, Lichfield. (NRHE Name - White Knights Cottage, Croxall) (Ref: PN: 15-34)

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument 1011069: Hlaew and settlement remains at Croxall

Full description

Significant Placename: Possibly relating to a 'valley'. 'nook' or 'corner'. <1>

The earliest mention of the settlement 'Crokeshalle' is in AD 942, and it is listed in the Derbyshire Domesday as 'Crocheshalle'. Perhaps meaning 'Croc's halh'. The Old English 'Croc' could be derived from the Old Norwegian, Old Danish or Old Swedish for 'a hook', providing evidence for Scandinavian influence here. (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <2>

35 villagers and 11 smallholders with 8 ploughs, 2 mills, 22 acres of meadow and underwood (2 furlongs long by 1 furlong wide) recorded in Domesday. The value of the settlement was £3 before 1066) and at the time of Domesday £4. <3>

The site of a deserted settlement. An aerial photograph of 1948 shows deep gullies in the field opposite The Grange which have been interpreted as the lines of streets of the medieval village, with rectangular features showing the position of buildings. Between the hall and the old vicarage a well (now infilled) has been recorded and in 1873 it was recorded that some 'old British urns containing burnt bones' were ploughed up in a field near the hall.
The medieval village seems to extend on the north-east side of the river from the field opposite the grange to the Catton Road (although the irregularities seen on the aerial photograph on the other side of the river are probably of more recent origin). (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <4> <5> <6> <7>

Croxall was taxed separately in 1334. (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <8>

'Earthworks of small extent' are cited to adjoin the tumulus (PRN00945) near Croxall churchyard. These earthworks probably form part of the deserted medieval village. (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <9>

The name Croxall means 'village on the hill'. The village formerly stood on the south side of the church, on the high ground, and traces of the foundations of its houses can still be seen. (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <10>

The site of the medieval village of Croxall lies to the south and east of St. John the Baptist's Church, where a network of sunken roads is visible. Some of the roads are lined with the site of houses and crofts while others lead to the church and to the old rig-and-furrow fields. No reason for the depopulation of the village was ascertained. The area is under pasture and the site well preserved. (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <11> <12>

The field is under corn stubble. Ploughing has smoothed the earthworks of this deserted village and some of the features shown on a survey of 1958 can no longer be recognised. The slopes defining the principal roads are still visible and are up to 1 metre high. The following features have been identified from aerial photography: probable earthwork crofts of medieval date seen as a fragmentary random, rectilinear linear system of seven conjoined enclosures, a possible square, earthwork enclosure, 10 metres by 10 metres, defined by a single bank, a possible square earthwork enclosure, 12m by 12m, defined by a single bank, and probable earthwork ridge and furrow of post-medieval date recorded as fragmentary random, curvilinear earthworks with 'blocks' of on average 100 metres by 40 metres. (SB, 10-Jan-2012) <13> <14>

Ridge and furrow also identified in this area on aerial photography. <15>

Probable earthwork ridge and furrow seen as fragmentary random, curvilinear earthworks formed in blocks measuring, on average, 100 metres by 40 metres. (SB, 20-Nov-2012) <16>

Sources and further reading

Related records

Feedback

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from Exegesis Spatial Data Management.