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Monument Types

• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Early Medieval to Late Medieval - 1125 AD to 1470 AD)

Summary

The village was first recorded in c.1125 and appears to have been deserted in the mid C15th. Earthwork remains include a manorial complex, tofts and crofts and hollow ways. Various archaeological investigations have taken place on site.

Additional Information

<1> Historic England, National Heritage List for England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012557 (Index). SLE7874.

Scheduled Monument extract:
"The deserted village site at Hamilton is located between the villages of Scraptoft and Barkby Thorpe on the north-east side of the city of Leicester and includes a moated site and a fishpond contained within the village earthworks. The area of village earthworks is contained within a roughly rectangular area measuring approximately 330m x 300m which is crossed by the Scraptoft to Barkby Thorpe road on its eastern side and the Melton Brook on the northern side. The boundaries of the medieval village are clearly defined by a bank 1.5m high on the south side beyond which lies ridge and furrow ploughing which can also be seen to the north-west of the site. A well defined internal street system is evidenced by hollow ways, the main examples of which run north-south and east-west and are up to 1m deep. The village street system does not relate to either the modern road or a footpath which crosses the site. A series of house platforms are evident, at least ten of which lie in the northern part of the site. A platform on the south-western side of the site is believed to be the site of a chapel. Platforms are often adjacent to closes, a large example of which lies on the south-east side of the site defined by ditches of about 1m in depth. On the northern side of the close is a rectangular moated area measuring 55m x 45m overall. The moat ditches are approximately 1 deep and 8m in width with a channel leading off on the eastern side. Adjacent to the north-western corner, but not connected to it, is a rectangular fishpond measuring 30m x 10m which is about 1m deep.
"The name of Hamilton is first recorded in c.1125 when it contained 374 acres of land. By 1377 there were only four taxpayers and it is clear that desertion took place in the next century. A chapel dedicated to St John was dependent on Barkby. A series of small excavations were carried out in the years following the Second World War in which a large circular hearth and flooring was discovered together with medieval and Roman finds. The modern road on the eastern side of the site and the footbridge over Melton Brook are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included."
Scheduled 29/05/1952, most recent amendment 10/09/1992.

<2> Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 1945, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 22, Vol 22 (1945), p234-4 (Deserted Villages of Leics) (Journal). SLE4982.

Hamilton appears as a typical little medieval hamlet in the early 14th century. An outlying settlement of Barkby, with a little chapel of its own dedicated to St. John the Baptist and served three days a week by the vicar of Barkby, the mother church. Hamilton probably had a dozen to 15 families in the early part of the 14th century. Only 4 families were listed when poll tax was levied in 1377 and it is evident that the place had suffered severely from the periodic savages of the bubonic plague. It seems that the enclosure (and conversion to pasture) and depopulation of the hamlet must go back at least to the middle of the 15th century. 'Now, the site is in a field with a distinct earthen rampart all round it which the modern hedge follows; and within the rampart are the irregular bumps that mark where houses once stood and the shallow depressions that reveal the line of the old streets'.

<3> 1956, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 32, Vol 32 (1956), p44-5 (Seven DMV sites in Leics) (Journal). SLE5968.

Hoskins has summarised the documentary evidence in 2 articles. The name is first recorded c.1125 (Leics Survey). It had 375 acres of land pertaining. In 1327 and 1331 tax assessments there were 9 or 10 family names, but by 1377 only 4 taxpayers. 9 messuages mentioned in C14th. Probably deserted mid C15th, certainly by 1477. A chapel dedicated to St John was dependent on Barkby.

<4> Nichols J, The History and Antiquities of Leicestershire, Vol 3 pt 1 (1800), p61 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7.

Nichols says 'at Hamilton there was formerly a chapel and in a close called The Township may yet be traced the lines of many buildings, particularly the chapel and chapelyard, and in that and in the close to the east of it the boundaries of gardens, ramparts, fishponds, etc."

<5> 1964, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 39, Vol 39 (1964-5), p24-33 (Provisional List of DMVs in Leicestershire) (Journal). SLE5900.

Hamilton - Archaeological Classification: very good; Historical Classification: excellent documentary evidence for the former existence of a village, with period of desertion known; Period: enclosure for pasture or improved arable, c.1400-1700; grid reference: SK 645 075.

<6> 1965-6, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 41, Vol 41 (1966), p67 (Journal). SLE5981.

In 1963 The Thurnby Lodge Raven Club dug 3 pits east of the road, located on an aerial photograph, information in history file. The 1st produced a few pieces of medieval pottery and a few cobbles, the 2nd produced pottery again. The 3rd produced cobbled surfaces including Roman tile and pottery. There were nails and pieces of iron and medieval pottery including a large section of one pot.

<7> Leicestershire SMR Comment, PL (undated) (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

Four sherds picked up over the years 'around the DMV' were donated - one was medieval, the rest probably Roman. (187.1974)

<8> Leicestershire SMR Comment, RFH (undated) (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

On 12/05/1982 RF Hartley surveyed the site. He analyses the earthworks as containing a manorial complex in the SE corner made up of a large building platform (?manor house) with pond to W and enclosure to S and N. It is largely surrounded by a bank and ditch. A possible site for the chapel is to the W of this. To the N are the sites of c.10 houses. The medieval road system is quite different to the modern.

<9> Leicestershire SMR Comment, PL 28/04/94 (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

In the 1990s Leicester University students intensively examined the site - surveying, geophysics, etc.

<10> Hartley R F, 1989, The Medieval Earthworks of Central Leicestershire, p8 & p16 (Bibliographic reference). SLE342.

"The deserted village of Hamilton is a well-known site. Hoskins considered that it was probably depopulated about the middle of the C15th. In the early C14th the village had a chapel, served by the vicar of Barkby, and some 12-15 families. Only four families are mentioned by the time of the 1377 poll-tax. The chapel had gone by 1477 and the land was completely enclosed by 1495. (Hoskins 1944-5 242-4). The earthworks are well preserved, with a distinct manorial enclosure, centred on the large building platform (1), and numerous sites of small buildings (2-14)."

<11> Warren, Sally, 1995, An archaeological watching brief at Hamilton Lane, Barkby Thorpe, Leicestershire (Unpublished document). SLE1267.

In 1995 workmen uncovered a cobbled road leading to the village site. May also show signs of a building. Work overseen by ULAS. The report recorded possible stone footings and two areas of cobbles relating to a hollow way, and on Hamilton Lane evidence of early metalling surfaces.

<12> 2021, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2021, p18 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7448.

Heritage at Risk 2021: condition GENERALLY SATISFACTORY BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT LOCALISED PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability STOCK EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry YES

<13> 2022, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2022, p17 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7076.

Heritage at Risk 2022: condition GENERALLY SATISFACTORY BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT LOCALISED PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability STOCK EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<14> 2016, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) accessioning (Website). SLE4981.

SUMMARY: "Earthworks of crofts, streets, moated site of the manor house and fishpond of village first mentioned circa 1125 deserted circa 1450."
URL: 'https://nrhe-to-her.esdm.co.uk/NRHE/RecordDetail.aspx?pageid=45&he_uid=319196', accessioned 11/10/2024.

<15> Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 (6") historic mapping, 1904 (Map). SLE7243.

[Centred at SK 6433 0735] Town of Hamilton [G.T.] (Site of)

<16> Virtual catalogue entry to support NAR migration, G.E. Kendall Assoc. Architect. Rep. & Papers. Vol. XXXV piii (1920) (Unpublished document). SLE7248.

It was not mentioned at Domesday but in the Leicestershire Survey of 1124-9 is spelt Hamelton.

<17> Vertical aerial photograph reference number, APs (RAF 541/235 4001; 106 G UK 734 4389-90) (Aerial Photograph). SLE7253.

Hamilton. Earthworks visible on aerial photographs.

<18> Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Field Investigators Comments, A Clarke/17-JUN-1953 (Website). SLE3488.

The village is situated on low-lying ground on both sides of a small stream and the subsoil is sand and gravel. In contrast to the majority of deserted villages so far encountered Hamilton is remarkably regular in layout; its topographical situation is also unusual in view of its low-lying position. The site of the manor-house (a dry homestead moat) and the streets and croft enclosures are obvious. The village park is also clearly traceable around the southern and eastern perimeters of the village. The whole site is under pasture and completely unmutilated. For general layout and extent see 1/2500. Archive Sheet No 2020.

<19> Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Field Investigators Comments, R L B Work/21-OCT-1953 (Website). SLE3488.

The small cutting of 1948 was made, not across an area of the moat, but at the side of the depression which represents one of the main streets of the village.

<20> Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Field Investigators Comments, F D Colquhoun/24-MAY-1972 (Website). SLE3488.

The remains of the village are still under permanent pasture. Earlier in the year the major portion of the site was under flood, apparently a regular annual occurence; suggesting that the village was possibly only summer occupied. Published survey (25" 1955) revised.

<21> Medieval Village Research Group, Report 20-1 (1972-3), p22 (Journal). SLE3489.

Structure Plan proposals provide for a development for a population of some 20,000 persons in the vicinity of the village site. The local authorities have every intention of ensuring that any design scheme is sensitive to the need to keep the village and immediate surroundings as an open space.

<22> Scheduled Monument List/Amendment, English Heritage SAM Amendment Leicestershire 10-SEP-1992 (Scheduling record). SLE7368.

SK 6434 0740. The deserted village site at Hamilton is contained within a roughly rectangular area clearly defined by earthwork boundaries 1.5m high. A well-defined internal street system is evidenced by hollow ways and a series of house platforms are evident, at least ten which lie in the northern part of the site. A platform on the south-western side is believed to be the site of a chapel. On the north side of a close to the south-east is a rectangular moated area 55m x 45m overall. The ditches are circa 1m deep and 8m wide with a channel leading off on the eastern side. Adjacent, but not connected to it is a rectangular fishpond 30m x 10m and about 1m deep.

Sources

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Medieval - 1067 AD to 1539 AD)

Designations

• Scheduled Monument 1012557: DESERTED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE OF HAMILTON

Associated Images

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