More information : [Name TF 2139 8877] West Wykeham Village. [GT] (Site of). [TF 2135 8886] Church [GT] (site of). (1) West Wykeham is mentioned in the Lay Subsidy of 1334. Because of pestilence, by 1396-7 the village was destitute and the church (St Edward's) in ruins, and the vicarage was united with Ludford Magna. Canon Foster, who originally sited village and church, as published, later amended both sitings; village to area: TF 2182 8851, and church to TF 2161 8862. This is confirmed by air photographs. Site partly ploughed. Scheduled. (2-7) Considerable remains of the village are centred to TF 2171 8849 and the largest steading - almost certainly the church site - at TF 2162 8858. Surveyed at 1/2500. (8) Romano-British sherds, mainly grey ware rims and bases were found on the site of the West Wykeham DMV, together with 13th/14th century greenglazed sherds. The finds were donated to Lincoln Museum by Miss H Healey. (9) The village remains are under permanent pasture which slopes to the SE and is bounded on the east by a stream. It is possible to trace eighteen steadings, of average dimensions 17.0m by 5.0m, with associated earthworks connected by hollow ways. The probable site of the church is distinguished by traces of robbed foundations and a surrounding bank indicating the church yard. In plough land east of the stream the sites of a few more steadings are indicated by debris scatters. To the north 85.0m of hollow way extant in 1963 has now been ploughed and filled. 1-2500 survey of 1963 revised. No Romano British pottery was seen either on the site or on the adjacent ploughland. (10)
The foundations of the church described by the previous authorities and other possible settlement remains were seen as cropmarks and earthworks and mapped from good quality air photographs. The foundations of the church were recorded at TF 2163 8858, with an entrance in the north facing side. The church appears to be surrounded by a ditched enclosure.
The remains of six other buildings were recorded, all approximately 14m by 8m. Four are clustered around the hollow way to the east of the church at TF 2168 8857, whilst the other two are further to the south at TF 2175 8848.
A series of hollow ways runs through the village, the main section being 560m long, running NW to SE, from TF 2158 8885 to TF 2190 8845. Other sections of hollow way branch off this. Parts of ditch- defined tofts and crofts line the edges of hollow ways. Also part of the village complex are five blocks of ridge and furrow, each approximately 100m in length. (Morph No. LI.302.1.1 - 1.8) This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (11) |