More information : [SK 98643657] Ropsley Grange [G.T.] (Site of). [Centred SK 98603652] Roman Camp [G.S.]. (1) A grange of the Cistercian Abbey of Vandey on Ropsey Heath is first mentioned in 1189-90. The last mention of a building on the site is c.1550. Ploughing in 1944 revealed vast quantities of foundations and in 1954 trial excavations were made. The grange was situated inside a roughly rectangular enclosure with an inturned entrance near the SE corner. The only part of the enclosure surviving is a stretch of the north side, consisting of a stone wall averaging 3'3" thick. The main building of the grange [at `A' SK 98593650] was partly excavated and massive stone walls and a hearth discovered. Finds were dated from early 13th to early 16th century. [A.O./LP/63/327] OS Maps and the Ancient Monuments Act of 1930 described the site as a `Roman Camp' but nothing of this date was found. Now scheduled as `Site of Cistercian Grange.' (2-4)
Precinct walls and internal building clearly visible on air photographs. (5)
Published survey (25") revised. There are no surface remains visible. (6)
The Cistercian grange, described by authorities 1-6, was seen as cropmarks and mapped from good quality air photographs. The cropmarks, which represent foundation walls, revealed the extent of the enclosing wall (referred to as the `Precinct' wall by authority 5), and at least fourteen internal buildings and several courtyards, centred at SK 9864 3657.
The 'precinct' enclosure, 305m wide, has a straight southern side and convex western and eastern sides, but the northern side (revealed by excavation) was not visible on air photographs. The eastern side of the enclosure has a substantial inturned funnel entrance at SK 9878 3653, which leads into a large courtyard, centred at SK 9869 3654. The courtyard is enclosed on all four sides by ranges of buildings and another smaller courtyard on its western side at SK 9862 3648, with an entrance between them. Two other entrances can be identified on the eastern side of the grange enclosure, at SK 9878 3657 and SK 9877 3648, which also lead into two possible small courtyard areas.
The buildings around the large courtyard vary in size and shape. The rectangular building at the north-west corner, at SK 9859 3652, measuring 22m by 20m with internal divisions, had previously been identified during excavation of the site as the main building of the grange (see authorities 2-4). However, in the western half of the grange enclosure is a very substantial rectangular building, 70m by 25m, centred at SK 9859 3652, identified from air photographs. (Morph No. LI.837.1.1-19)
The quarry to the north-west of the site may have been the source of the limestone building material for the grange (see SK 93 NE 36).
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (7)
The above site was visited, but no evidence of the Monastic Grange was visible in the field, which was under arable cultivation. (8) |