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Summary

A small motte and bailey earthwork castle which stood to the south east of All Saints Church until 1970, when it was levelled. Before destruction the site comprised a low motte standing 1.2m above the surrounding ground and encircled by a ditch, with a small bailey to the south defined by a ditch and low bank. Excavation in 1970 prior to levelling found traces of a timber building and pits, postholes and bands of metalling indicating occupation phases. The interior of the bailey was not excavated. The pottery retrieved indicated occupation from the 11th to the 12th century. The site may have been the early manor house, adjoining the church which belonged to the lords of the manor until 1185 when it, and some land, were granted to Dunstable Priory. The manor house for the Manor of Chalgrave as described in a document of 1386 is clearly not this site, as it included a chapel, moat and pond but no reference to the church. It is likely that this site was abandoned in favour of a new site for the manor house at around the same time that the church and land were given to Dunstable Priory. There is no evidence for significant settlement around the church which began as a manorial chapel.

Full Description

<1> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs (CUCAP), Cambridge AP: Index (Aerial Photograph). SBD10593.

LE 52-54 (13/4/1953) [Ridge & furrow ploughing, Chalgrave] [TL 101 272]
UE 40-42 (5/4/1957) Earthworks, Chalgrave TL 010 273
UE 43-44 (5/4/1957) [Isolated church, Chalgrave TL 008 274]
UE 39 (5/4/1957) DMV TL 014273

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1960, Ordnance Survey 6" Map, 1960 Edition (Map). SBD10640.

Oval mound immediately SE of church, TL 0095 2738 shown with hachures and labelled as 'Earthwork'.

<3> M. Beresford and J. G. Hurst, 1971, Deserted Medieval Villages, p. 183 (TL 010 270) (Bibliographic reference). SBD10860.

Chalgrave DMV TL 010 270

<4> Manshead Archaeological Society of Dunstable, Documents, Index (from J. Dyer) (Unpublished document). SBD10859.

Motte & Bailey, TL 009 274: 12th century sherds coarse ware; tile with brown glaze; 18th century Delft ware; clay pipe stem; iron nails. Finds in Luton Museum.

<5> Bedfordshire Archaeological Council, 1971, Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Volume 6, pp. 83-84 (Kennett) (Article in serial). SBD14116.

During September 1970 a rescue excavation was carried out for the Department of the Environment by Brian K.Davison on the site of the earthwork castle which lies to south-east of Chalgrave Church. The earthworks were threathened with destruction in the course of farm improvements, and since the excavation have been completely levelled.

Excavation was confined to the low motte, which proved to have been thrown-up in the mid-twelfth century over the remains of the eleventh century manor. Unfortunately, time did not allow for the detailed examination of these earlier features. The motte itself achieved its final form as the result of two separate phases of construction. First, the site of the early buildings was ditched round, and the spoil thrown inwards to form a low plaform 22m in diameter and lm high, surrounded by a ditch 6m wide and 2m deep. This platform was apparently constructed in order to give stability to a central structure 10m square, possibly a tower.

This square building was dismantled late in the twelfth century, and the platform was extended to form a more oval area on which a new single-storied building was erected. At the same time, the motte ditch was re-cut.

The site was finally abandoned, in favour of a more convenient site adjacent to the north, early in the thirteenth century.

<6> Council for British Archaeology, 1971, CBA Group 9 Newsletter, No. 1, No. 1, 1971, pp. 16-17 (Serial). SBD10818.

As Ref. (5). "Sept. 1970" given as date of excavations.

<7> Dunstable Gazette, 26/9/1970: Students work on Chalgrave Manor House (Newspaper Article). SBD10607.

A large mound and a church are all that survive of the old village of Chalgrave which probably died, along with its last Lord of the Manor, in the 14th century. The church is still in use but the mound has been neglected for about eight centuries. But now, with the threat that, like the rest of the village, it will be ploughed up as agricultural land, the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works has sent a team to study it.

<8> Dunstable Gazette, 3/10/1970: Excavations at Chalgrave (Newspaper Article). SBD10607.

The house, which was enclosed by a protective stockade, stood on a mound about 70 feet across. The students have dug sections across the mound to find out exactly when the house was built and what it looked like. They have found a mass of relics, including pottery, ornaments and a coin, probably a Henry II "groat" or four-penny piece.

<9> Dunstable Gazette, 10/10/1970: 'Disappointing' result to excavation at Chalgrave Manor (Newspaper Article). SBD10607.

The ministry team which has been excavating the remains of the ancient Manor House at Chalgrave has not unearthed nearly as much information as it hoped. The three-week "dig" ended on Saturday with most of the evidence still tantalisingly buried beneath the surface of a mound which is shortly going to be ploughed up for agriculture.

<10> Alison Taylor, Site visit notes, 4th July 1973 (Notes from site visit). SBD12104.

Motte & bailey site, TL 009 274, now ploughed. DMV associated with Chalgrave Church now gone.
4 earthworks to SE now ploughed. No visible evidence. Field to east [which one?] recently ploughed; no pottery found in north corner.

<11> Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service Documents, BLARS: X325/66, Notebook, 1922 & X325/108, Diary, 1916 (both F. G. Gurney) (Unpublished document). SBD10551.

1 Aug 1922: I forgot to search for traces of Chalgrave village, but by what I know of the surface there, they have long been ploughed out & replaced by plough-ridges, I imagine that the houses stood S & W of the church, vicarage and 'castle'. By what is said in the Dunstable Annals about Tebworth its 'capella', the houses & population had probably shifted to a great extent to that site by the latter part of the century, some or both, no doubt to the site of the present manor-house, in Saxon times called East Coten?
31 Aug 1916: rode in evening to Chalgrave & measured Sir Nele Loring's low castle-mound by pacing over it. It has apparently been purposely lowered, & the moat filled with the material from its top. The greatest height now is about 7 feet on the northern side, lower elsewhere. The mound is an oval of 105 paces about (by one keeping to the extreme edge) - 37 or 38 paces long from NE to NW and 28 paces broad at its greatest width. There are straight lines of shallow and narrow ditch beyond it E and W ending in another such ditch at rather slight bank, nearly at right angles southwards; this is 55 paces long, but the distance by which the long lines are separated northwards is 79 paces. [Scaled drawing of earthworks included].
The few mole-heaps show no pottery, only a fragment or two of mortar. I found a piece of typically medieval grey ware in the roots of a fallen elm in the hedge at A.

<12> 1937, Bedfordshire Regional Planning Authority Report, p. 188 (Unpublished document). SBD10783.

[Lists] Chalgrave Manor "though this is inconspicuous" [may refer to SMR 91]

<13> J. H. Blundell, Toddington and District Cuttings, Newspaper Article of 31/7/1894 (Newspaper Article). SBD11192.

It is thought that the ancient mansion of the Lorings may have stood near the church. Major Cooper Cooper writes: "Close to Chalgrave Church there appears to have been a more ancient and larger house, the uneven ground suggests this."

<14> William Page & H. Arthur Doubleday (Editors), 1912, Victoria County History Vol III, Bedfordshire, Vol. III, 1912, p. 345 (Bibliographic reference). SBD13982.

The original settlement lies on the north boundary, and now consists of two cottages and the church.

<15> Notebook in Buckinghamshire County Museum, Aylesbury, Notebook inscribed M. 1 (Misc.), c. 1920's (F. G. Gurney collection) (Unpublished document). SBD11047.

Mentions "meadow in which is the mound-and-bailey site….level, platform of the cut-down motte, and wide moat.

<16> Beauchamp Wadmore, 1920, Earthworks of Bedfordshire, pp. 157-159 including plan and drawing (Bibliographic reference). SBD10706.

This mounded work is certainly the least conspicuous of any in Bedfordshire. So much is this the case, that it rarely finds mention. Yet it is undoubtedly typical of Norman design. It stands, as is so frequently the case in other instances, near the Church, and at the present time little but the central island remains. This is fairly large in circumference, but rises little above the surrounding meadow. It was girdled with a fosse of shallow depth, of which there is but the faintest trace remaining. On the west and south there are indications that there was an outer enclosure.

<17> Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, Vol. V, 1920, p. 168 (Gurney) (Serial). SBD10681.

The field in which stands the lowered 'motte' of the Lorings.

<18> Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service Documents, BLARS: CRT 130 CHA 5 (E. Clive Rouse) (Unpublished document). SBD10551.

The Loryng manor house (traces of which can be seen in an adjoining field, in the shape of a large, flat mound and some banks and ditches).

<19> F G Emmison (Ed), Bedfordshire Parish Registers, Vol. 18, p. Ai (Bibliographic reference). SBD10769.

Chalgrave 'village', even in the 16th Century, was almost non-existent; the greater part of the parishioners lived in the hamlets of Tebworth and Wingfield.

<20> The Bedfordshire Archaeologist, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1955, pp. 43-44 (Dyer) (Bibliographic reference). SBD10782.

Chalgrave Manor (TL 009 274): During the late summer of 1951 Luton Grammar School Archaeological Society invited by F. W. Kuhlicke to try and locate the lost manor of Chalgrave. Records showed that there had been an agricultural settlement at Chalgrave since early in the tenth century. It was suggested that the manor might lie under the mound close to Chalgrave Church. This mound examined by the Archaeological Society.
Mound lies 100 yards south east of Chalgrave Church, in a large grassy meadow which slopes to the east. Mound oval in shape - diameter of 100 feet by 80 feet. 5 feet high with flat top, steep sides, surrounded by wide shallow ditch. Running south from points due east and west of mound are two banks, which turn to approach and join one another 180 feet south of the mound centre.
Excavation: Two trenches cut, one through mound, one across ditch and bank. First trench topped with layer of modern turf and humus 8 inches thick. Below it was a layer of gravel mixed with earth for 9 inches and below that clean clay-wth-flints for at least 3 feet. Occasional sherds of 12th century pottery found in gravel layer. No post-holes for stockade found.
Second trench - 15 feet wide, bounded by steep moundside to west down which much 12th century rubbish in the form of tiles, nails, pot-sherds and glass had fallen together with large quatities of charcoal and other burnt material. The bank on the east side of the ditch, which appeared to be stone faced, had probably held a stockade though no post-holes were detected. Dug into the natural ground level was a circular pit 3 feet in diameter and 1 foot deep. In it were the remains of a hearth comprising much burnt wood and animal bones, but no dating material. Existed before bank was raised - workmens fire?
Interpretation: Small 'castle' of motte and bailey type. Absence of foundations makes it unlikely that was Loring's manor house (though would have been ideal windmill site known to exist at time). Is not the manor house site described in 1386. 12th century pottery does not support occupation continuing to 1386. Motte and bailey represents a smaller and considerably earlier manor site, built presumably of wood. Later manor must be elsewhere. Most likely site is close to, or on, the site of the present Manor Farm.

<21> Bedfordshire Magazine, Vol. 9, 1963-1965, p. 8 (Dyer) (Serial). SBD10543.

At Chalgrave we can probably see a sequence of occupation, first on the small motte and bailey site near the church, then on the moated site in the meadows to the east and finally on the Manor Farm site.

<22> Bedfordshire Magazine, Vol. 8, 1961-1963, p. 349 (Dyer) (Serial). SBD10543.

Close to Chalgrave church is a large, low oval-shaped mound with a small bailey on its southern side. Excavations here in 1951 were rather disappointing, but suggested that a hall with a gravel floor had stood on the mound, surrounded by a wooden stockade set in a substantial bank. Under the bank a hearth was found containing charcoal of oak, hazel and ash, probably left by workmen responsible for constructing this little fortified manor.

<23> V. Pritchard, 1967, English Medieval Graffiti, p. 1 (Bibliographic reference). SBD11193.

The ground all round the church is full of Norman potsherds.

<24> Bedfordshire Magazine, Vol. 12, 1969-1971, p. 290 (Rouse) (Serial). SBD10543.

The remote church of Chalgrave, standing amidst the lumps and bumps of the deserted medieval village site and the manor house of the Loryngs.

<25> P Bigmore, 1979, Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire Landscape, p. 92 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10902.

Tebworth and Wingfield are still the more important settlements of the parish. This situation was evidently ancient for in 1376 a rental listed 32 messuages in Tebworth and 17 at Wingfield but only 8 around the manor house.

<26> Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service Documents, BLARS: MC 13, Rental, 1376 (Unpublished document). SBD10551.

Records 8 messuages at Chalgrave, at least 17 messuages at Wingfield and at least 32 messauges at Tebworth.

<27> Stephen R. Coleman, Comments, Notes on earthworks and possible settlement, January 1983 (Observations and Comments). SBD10779.

The aerial photographs show that the manor site was ploughed out between 1970 and 1974. Although a church and manorial site existed here the evidence for other dwellings is extremely sparse both in the documents and on the ground. A vicarage house and Chantry house are known close to the church but apart from these probably only a handful of cottages ever existed there. By no stretch of the imagination could Chalgrave have ever been called a village. Apart from the manorial site and ridge and furrow, no other earthworks have ever been recorded at Chalgrave. Also the evidence suggests that settlement remains have not been overploughed by the ridge and furrow.

<28> National Monuments Record, NMR Aerial Photograph, TL 0027/1/162 (16/5/1973) (Aerial Photograph). SBD10595.

Cropmarks of motte and bailey site apparent, earthworks having been completely ploughed out.

<29> Stephen R. Coleman, Comments (Observations and Comments). SBD10779.

The motte and bailey site is now totally gone. It was in an excellent position for just such a site, the mound being at the edge of high ground which dropped sharply away to the east and south. The arable field where the site lay contains much stone and flint cobbles.

<30> Council for British Archaeology, 1987, South Midlands Archaeology, Volume 17, Vol. 17, 1987, pp. 10-11 (Serial). SBD14130.

The results of the excavation were somewhat inconclusive, especially for the early period. This was due to two principal factors: shortage of time during excavation and poor survival of evidence.
The castle lay in the NW corner of the demesne, and is thought to be the early medieval manor house for the Manor of Chalgrave. This manor was held by the Loring family from before the Norman Conquest until 1386 when it was divided. Buildings described in a 14th century survey almost certainly relate to the later manor house in another part of the demesne. The earlier, excavated, site is thought to have been abandoned at or around 1185 when Roger Loring granted the church and adjoining land to Dunstable Priory.
Only a small area of pre-motte ground surface was examined, but it did show indications of a dismantled timber building and gullies.
The motte itself was rather low and squat, containing a square trampled feature in its centre. No trace of a perimeter fence but evidence that the mound may have had timber revetting.
The motte was subsequently extended and some time later a new set of buildings erected on the top of the motte - a central long building with lean-to buildings on either side. This complex was surrounded by a gravel path and possibly a perimeter wall.
Some examination of the bailey ditch was undertaken, but there was no opportunity to examine the interior of the bailey itself.
One find worthy of note (illustrated). Made of bone, it is a tubular fitting in the form of a beast's head with open jaws with a recess on the underside, possibly late 11th century.

<31> The Bedfordshire Archaeological Council, 1988, Bedfordshire Archaeology, Volume 18, 'The Excavation of a Motte and Bailey Castle at Chalgrave, Bedfordshire, 1970', pp. 33-56 (Article in serial). SBD14102.

SUMMARY
A short rescue excavation on a small motte and bailey castle in Chalgrave, Bedfordshire, produced no clear evidence about its exact date or function, but pointed to the possibility that the castle acted as a centre for the Manor until the late 12th or early 13th century. The site was probably) used for agricultural buildings from the 14th century.

INTRODUCTION
The small earthwork castle that stood beside the church of All Saints, Chalgrave (SMR 721, TL 008 275), was excavated in September and October 1970 in advance of its total destruction to facilitate agricultural land use. No trace of the site now survives. It stood about 1.5 km south of Toddington on a flat topped ridge of sand and gravel overlying decalcified boulder clay, close to the north-western boundary of the parish (Fig 1). There are no obvious natural defences that might have determined the siting of the castle, although the position has well drained soils and good all round views. If defence had been the main consideration in the choice of the site, a better vantage point could have been found on the end of a slight spur 200 m to the E, where the ground drops away steeply to the E and SE. The tilled land of Chalgrave parish lies to the south (Fig 13) and viewed from this direction the castle and its adjoining church would have been very prominent on the skyline. The earthworks surviving in 1970 (Fig 2) consisted of a low motte with a small bailey to the south. The motte stood 1.2 m above the surrounding ground level and had a completely flat top. It was surrounded by a ditch 8 m - 11 m wide and 0.5 m deep, crossed by a low narrow ridge or causeway to the N. The bailey was defined by a ditch and low bank. These were best preserved at the south-west, the ditch here being 10.6 m deep and the bank 0.2 m high. The general appearance of the earthwork prior to excavation suggested that the defences were weak, with the main defensive feature being the ditch rather than the motte. Prior to the 1970 excavation, there had been at least two periods of archaeological work on the site. In 1951 James Dyer directed a small excavation concentrating on the perimeter of the motte and the eastern ditch (Dyer 1955). In the 1960's an unknown amateur dug various holes in the top of the motte. The scars of both these excavations were visible prior to the work now under discussion.

THE EXCAVATION
Only a very short period of time was allowed for archaeological excavation prior to the site's total destruction. Detailed investigation was therefore confined to the top of the motte, with machine-cut trenches running both E and W to investigate the ditches (Fig 2). The summit of the motte was divided into eight, wedge-shaped sectors for excavation and recording purposes. The excavation was incomplete, and there was no time to investigate all features fully. In particular, only one small trench was dug to examine the old ground surface beneath the motte, and no attempt was made to investigate the interior of the bailey.

PHASE 1, THE PRE-MOTTE FEATURES (Figs 3 & 5)
An area 6 m x 2 m was excavated by hand to the old ground surface at the west edge of the motte. A thick layer of fine, grey, sandy soil with charcoal flecks (123) overlay the old ground surface (124). Several features were found to be cut into the old ground surface and were filled with the overlying grey sandy soil. Two parallel gullies (42 & 44) were found, one (44) with evidence of former timber posts. It may have been the bedding trench for a line of alternating posts and studs set at approximately 0.6 m centres. A further gully (46) had held at least two posts at its western end and three at the E. It was not possible to tell whether (123) had been cut by these features or had built up around them. All the timbers had been withdrawn, however, before the motte was raised. Below the E flank of the motte a fourth gully was cut into the grey sandy soil (123), sealed by the mound (Fig 5, 121). Further E again, beyond the bailey defences, a ditch (30) was found on the same alignment as the post trenches (42 & 44) and running roughly parallel to them. This ditch was 1.35 m wide and about 1 m deep, with a sharp 'V' shaped profile (Fig 5; this is a very oblique section).
The ditch stopped abruptly, with a carefully cut square end. Although this ditch was cut through an earlier posthole and appeared to have its upper fills cut by further postholes, the stratigraphic relationship between it and the bailey ditch (31) was unclear, so that its inclusion in this phase must be tentative.

PHASE 2, THE PRIMARY MOTTE (Figs 4 & 5)
The old ground surface sloped gently from E to W. Over this, and countering the slope a low platform was thrown up (122, 59), with a maximum thickness of 0.4 m. This low 'motte' was circular and was derived from a ditch (129 & 139) 6 m wide and 1.5 to 1.8 m deep.
The main structural feature within this phase of occupation was a large rectangular, loam filled feature (14) at the centre of the mound. Time did not allow this feature to be fully excavated so it must remain conjectural as to whether this vertically sided hollow, measuring 9.5 m by 8 to 10.5 m, represents a structure that predated the motte which was raised around it, or post-dated the motte having been dug into it. The infill of this hollow, the upper surface of which appeared to have been trampled, must represent a secondary use or disuse of the rectangular central structure, whatever it was. A number of other features (pits, postholes, etc) were cut into the surface of the motte, none of which could be positively attributed to this phase. No trace of any perimeter palisade or fence was found, although the shallow stepped profile of the inner edge of the ditch in the E and the small gully (138) cut by the ditch in the W may represent the bedding trench for a timber revetment to the mound. The exact stratigraphical relationship between the gully (138) and the motte remains unclear, so this interpretation must remain tentative. However, calculations suggest that the spoil from the ditch (129/139) could not be dispersed to form so low a motte, unless the sides of the motte were almost vertical.

PHASE 3A, THE MOTTE EXTENSION (Figs 4 & 5)
The early circular motte was found to have been extended to the NW (119), giving an oval plan. Some of the material used for this extension derives from subsoil found only at a depth of 1.5 m; it may thus have come from ditch 140 (Fig 5), which reached such deposits. Over the whole surface of the extended motte there lay a uniform layer of soil 0.14 to 0.20 m deep (4). It was unclear whether this was a soil formed in situ and subsequently churned up, thus losing its natural profile, or was material deliberately brought in to make up the ground prior to the construction of the period 3b buildings. Several features could be associated stratigraphically with the soil layer; two small pits (68 & 90) and five postholes (48, 49, 60, 83 & 95). Other features may have been associated with this phase but their relationship with the soil layer (4) was not clear.

PHASE 3B, THE FINAL PHASE OF OCCUPATION (Fig 6)
In the last phase of occupation the surface of the extended motte was occupied by new buildings. The evidence for these took the form of bands of chalky loam bordering areas of gravel 'metalling' (Fig 6). These deposits lay on top of the soil layer (4) of phase 3a. The loam bands incorporated fragments of chalk about 1 to 2 cm in diameter, which occurred approximately every 5 cm; this material does not occur naturally in the immediate area and must have been imported deliberately from some distance away. The loam bands and gravelled areas form distinct patterns that may represent the remains of earthen wall foundations from a central long building with lean-to extensions on either side, surrounded by a gravel path, and possibly with a perimeter wall. There were no hearths or other evidence of domestic usage, and little can be said, from the structural evidence, about the nature of any buildings from this phase. The ditch of phase 3a was recut with a deeper 'V' shaped profile (130 & 141). Unfortunately it is not possible to assign this recut with any certainty to either of the last two phases.

THE BAILEY DEFENCES (Fig 5)
The surface indications before excavation showed the bailey ditch, to the E of the motte (31), narrowing and becoming shallower as it ran from S to N, eventually merging into the motte ditch. The bailey bank similarly faded out at this point. The machine-cut trench E of the motte crossed the bailey ditch at this narrow point, just before it merged with the motte ditch. Here, the bailey ditch was only 1.2 m wide and 0.25 m deep, with a low bank formed of scraped up topsoil However, even in the narrow machine trench the ditch was seen to be getting wider and deeper as it ran S. To the W, the bailey ditch was much wider and deeper, 4.7 m by 1.10 m, and 'V' profiled (162). A low bank of clay (157) survived to a height of 0.25 m. Aerial photographs, however, suggest that at one time the W side of the bailey may have been incorporated into a later field boundary, so that this 'V' shaped, deep ditch may be the result of later re-cutting. Time again did not permit the investigation of the bailey bank in search of structural features. The bailey ditch was separated from the motte ditch in the section taken, and thus cannot be with certainty fitted into the stratigraphic sequence of the motte.

FINDS

THE POTTERY by Georgina Brine
Introduction
Forty-four kg of medieval pottery was recovered from the 1970 excavations and has been sorted according to the Bedfordshire type series developed by E. Baker and J. Hassall (Baker and Hassall 1979). Some of the Chalgrave pottery fabrics are described in that publication, but most of the pottery fits into five newly recognized fabric groups, which are described below. The basic forms occurring in these five fabrics have been illustrated in Figs 7-9. Hatched sections have been used when the pot appears to be hand-made. Filled sections have been used when there are clear throwing lines on the pot. Further variations and a full descriptive catalogue are available in the archive. The pottery has been quantified by weight and estimated vessel equivalent. This has been analysed on micro-computer using programmes written by Dr Paul Tyers of the Department of Urban Archaeology, London. A summary of the results within phases is given below: the full analysis is available in the archive report. (A small amount of intrusive post-medieval pottery was discarded by the excavator.)

Fabric Descriptions
Roman Pottery (residual)
A small amount of residual Roman pottery was found: less than 1% of the total assemblage. Most of it was in a grey sandy fabric though there was one sherd of colour coat.

Saxon Pottery (residual)
A small amount of residual Saxon pottery in a roughly finished sandy fabric was found: less than 1% of the total assemblage. Two simple, handmade cooking pot rims were the only diagnostic pieces.

B1 St. Neots-type Ware
Less than 2% of the whole assemblage was in this fabric. (Fabric description in Baker and Hassall, 1979, 165.) Two bowls with inturned rims were the only forms recognized. This type is usually found within a 10th to 12th century date range.

B7 Developed St. Neots-type Ware
Less than 4% of the whole assemblage was in this fabric. (See op cit 167.) Forms included bowls, cooking pots, a small dish and jugs, which would fit in with a B1 typology; however the fabric is hard and well-fired to give even orange surfaces. The end of the B1 date range is suggested for this type.

C9 Brill/Boarstall-type Ware
One sherd would seem to have come from a Brill/ Boarstall-type small bottle. (Fabric description in op cit 173.)

C59A Fabric (Fig 7 Nos 1-11)
This group made up nearly 29% of the whole assem blage.' The main characteristic of the fabric is the abundance of coarse, rounded quartz inclusions which give the fabric a very pimply texture. Fine, angular white inclusions (limestone?) and some times rounded black inclusions (iron ore?) occur in moderate quantities'. The colour varies greatly but often there is a grey core with a patchy orange, grey and/or buff external surface and a light grey or dull orange internal surface. The forms are all everted rimmed cooking pots, often with finger-tip decora tion around the outer edge of the rim. Some vessels have clear throwing lines but others' appear hand made. It is presumably a local ware and the forms would suggest a late 1 lth to 12th century date (see discussion below).handmade. It is presumably a local ware and the forms would suggest a late 1 lth to 12th century date (see discussion below).

C59B Fabric (Fig 7 Nos 12-18 and Fig 8 Nos 19-31)
This group made up nearly 34% of the whole assemblage. The fabric is similar to C59A, but the rounded quartz is finer, giving a rough, sandy texture to the fabric. There are also sparse, coarse, blackened voids and sparse, very coarse, grog inclusions. The colour varies but often the external surface appears patchy like C59A with a light grey core. The forms are mostly cooking pots, similar to those in fabric C59A and again often having finger-tip decoration around the external edge of the rim, but there are also small bowls (No 18 and No 31) and jugs (No 23) and a small handled cooking pot with a perforated rim (No 22). Most of these vessels are clearly wheelmade, but a few appear handmade. Fabric C59B and C59A are possibly part of the same industry.

C59D Fabric
One sherd in fabric C59B had a thin clear glaze on the external and was given this fabric number.

C60 Fabric (Fig 9 Nos 32-38)
This group made up about 26% of the whole assemblage. The fabric has rather poorly sorted, medium to very coarse, sub-rounded quartz with sparse, limestone, grog and black ore inclusions. It most often occurs in a light grey or blue-grey colour throughout. Most of the forms are cooking pots, some similar in shape to those in fabric C59B, with one shallow dish (No 37) as the exception. Certain examples appear handmade but most have clear throwing lines.

C63 Fabric (Fig 9 Nos 39-42)
This fabric made up less than 3% of the total assemblage but it is very distinctive having sharp, angular, very coarse flint inclusions. There are also rounded, medium quartz grains and occasional grog inclusions and blackened voids. The colour varies greatly from grey to light yellow and sometimes red and orange surfaces. The forms are cooking pots similar to those in fabric C60, and it may be part of the same industry.

C64 Fabric (Fig 9 Nos 43-45)
This fabric made up only about 2% of the total assemblage. Its main characteristic is sparkling mica clearly visible on the surfaces. The fabric mainly has moderate rounded quartz grains of medium to course size, sparse flint inclusions of medium to very coarse size and varying amounts of grog, red and black inclusions (iron ore?) and white inclusions' (limestone?). The colour varies but often there is a grey core with grey or orange surfaces. The forms are mostly cooking pots although some finer rims might be from jugs (No 43).

E1 Fabric
This fabric made up less than 2% of the whole assemblage. (Description in op cit 212.) Standard bowls, a cooking pot and a jug were identified in this late medieval coarseware, the main production centre for which, in Bedfordshire, seems to be Flitwick five miles NE of Chalgrave (Mynard, Petchey and Tilson, 1983).

E2 Fabric
Only one cooking pot and a few unattributable sherds were found in this fabric. (Description in op cit 212.) It is probably a variant fabric within the late medieval coarseware tradition.

DISCUSSION
The proportion of these fabrics within each phase of the site is given in Table 1. Most of the shelly wares (B1 and B7) were found in phases 1 and 2 of the site, which may suggest they are earlier than the sandy wares. The small quantity of shelly wares in general might suggest either that there was little late Saxon/early medieval occupation on the site or that the ceramic tradition for this period in the S of the county differs from that demonstrated in Bedford (Baker and Hassall 1979). The local geology is unlikely to provide clays containing fossil shells, so the latter is likely. Of the sandy fabrics, three fabrics predominate from phase 2 onwards: C59A, C59B and C60. All these fabrics are new additions to the Beds Fabric Type Series and no external or independent dating is known at the time of writing. The number and variation of forms is quite limited, which might suggest a fairly tight date range. Comparison of forms with pottery from other regions (for instance Walton, Buckinghamshire see Farley, 1976, Fig 34, 37-38 etc and Northolt, Middlesex see Hurst, 1961, Fig 66, 67) suggests a date of 1 lth to 12th century is probable. Fabric C59A, C59B and C60 have subsequently been found as a result of the excavations at Grove Priory six miles to the SW of Chalgrave, and study of the assemblage there may throw some light on the dating of this group of pottery.
Apart from one glazed sherd, there are no 13th century glazed wares. This single sherd plus the late medieval E wares and the post medieval material have been regarded as intrusive. All the forms suggest domestic - cooking pots, bowls, jugs: kitchen wares. None of the pottery could be described as fine table ware or as having an industrial function.

OTHER FINDS by Holly Duncan

Introduction
A select catalogue of the small finds is presented below, the objects grouped according to material. Items excluded from the catalogue (17 in total), consisted of fragments of rods, strips or sheets, in two cases off-cuts, which were not readily indentifiable as being part of a specific object. A listing of small finds by phase follows the catalogue.

Coins
1. Alexander III long single cross penny, second coinage (1286+), obverse; ALEXANDER DEI GRA. Crowned bust in profile facing left with sceptre, reverse + REX SCOTORUM, two mullets, one six point, one seven point, two stars, one six point, one seven point. Very worn. Feature 4, phase 3A/B, Pit 2.

Copper Alloy
2. Pin, wire wound head moulded into spherical shape and circular sectioned shank (0.75 mm), length 24 mm. Feature 15, phase 3B. Suggested date 16th to 17th century. Parallels: Williams 1979:260: 3 Pin, wire wound head moulded into special shape and circular sectioned shank. Unstratified. Suggested date 16th to 17th century. Parallels: Williams 1979:260.
4. Pin, wire wound head moulded into spherical shape and circular sectioned shrank. Unstratified. Suggested date 15th? or 16th to 17th century. Parallels: Williams 1979:260. 5 Lace tag, rivet holes surviving. Feature 4, phase 3A/B. Suggested date pre-16th to 17th century. Parallels: Williams 1979:263. 4 Lace tag, oval in section, rivet holes do not survive, remaining length 19 mm. Feature 8, phase 3B. Suggested date pre-16th to 17th century. Parallels: Williams 1979:263.
7. Heraldic badge or jousting-shield?; shield shape with remains of enamel on both surfaces. A raised rectangular strip is affixed to the centre of the reverse face. Decoration does not survive, but a raised ridge down the centre of obverse face suggests that the field of decoration was divided. A curved notch has been cut out along one edge of the shield. Feature 4, phase 3A/B. Suggested date 14th to 15th century. Fig 10; 7.
8. Circular mount, damaged, with four circular perforations placed equidistant near the edge. A cast inverted annular ridge, centrally placed, originally held a boss or a gem. Feature 15, phase 3B. Fig 10, 8. 9 Gilt binding strip, plano-convex in section, decorated with stamped circular perforations. Feature 6, phase 3B. Suggested date 12th to 13th century. Fig_ 10; 9. Parallels: Goodall 1981a:70 and Coad and Streeton 1982: Fig 43, 4. 10 Binding strip, sub-rectangular in plan with one rivet hole either end, one rivet survives in-situ. Bent, remaining length c. 44 mm. Feature: base of topsoil, phase 3B.
9. Gilt binding strip, plano-convex in section, decorated with stamped circular perforations. Feature 6, phase 3B. Suggested date 12th to 13th century. Fig_ 10; 9. Parallels: Goodall 1981a:70 and Coad and Streeton 1982: Fig 43, 4.
10. Binding strip, sub-rectangular in plan with one rivet hole either end, one rivet survives in-situ. Bent, remaining length c. 44 mm. Feature: base of topsoil, phase 3B.
11. Strap end fragment?, made from a thin sheet, one end formed by folding over the sheet. One edge of a circular perforation survives, remaining length c12.1 mm. Unstratified.
12. Strap fitting, one iron rivet in situ and portion of a perforation surviving at the break. One end champhered [sic]. Feature 4, phase 3A/B.
13. Cast heart-shaped decorative fitting (?handle), sub -ectangular in section. Unstratified. Fig 10, 13. Parallels: Bedwin 1976: Fig 9a, 31.
14. Decorated rumbler bell with perforated rectangular tab for suspension. Feature 28, phase 3B. Suggested date 14th century onwards. Parallels: Baker, et al 1979: catalogue nos 1388, 1389. Plat and Coleman-Smith 1975: catalogue nos 1726, 1806, Fig 10, 14. 15 Harness ring? oval in section, diameter 21.7 mm. Feature 15, phase 3B. 16 Rim of vessel? rivetted by two iron rivets to a strip of iron. Possibly repair of copper alloy vessel. Feature 48, phase 3A/B. Fig 10, 16.
15. Harness ring? oval in section, diameter 21.7 mm. Feature 15, phase 3B.
16. Rim of vessel? rivetted by two iron rivets to a strip of iron. Possibly repair of copper alloy vessel. Feature 48, phase 3A/B. Fig 10, 16.

Lead and Lead Alloy
17. Lead alloy plaque, sub-square in plan with bevelled edges and a raised square border enclosing a ship-at-sea in relief. Two raised notches occur along the bottom edge, a third occurs on the top edge. Possibly a coin weight. Weight 9.1 g. Feature 28, phase 3B. Parallels: Christie and Coad 1980: Fig 57, Fig 12, 17.
18. Flashing? roughly rectangular sheet with two countersunk nailholes, remaining length 46 m. Feature 23, phase 3B.

Iron
19. Rectangular buckle with moveable bar and looped over pin. Probably for harness. Feature 39, phase 3B, suggested date 12th to 13th century. Fig 11, 19. Parallels: LMMC 1975: pl LXXIX no 2. Platt and Coleman-Smith 1975: catalogue no 1973.
20. Sub-rectangular buckle with rolled sheet round one end of loop and looped over pin. Probably for harness. Feature 4, phase 3A/B. Fig 11, 201 Parallels: LMMC 1975: pl DOCIX no 3. Williams 1979: Fig 120, 90, 98.
21. Rectangular double buckle with remains of rolled sheet round one side of loop. Feature 5, phase 38. Fig 11, 21.
22. Key, kidney shaped bow, solid stem, the ward is formed by the end of the stem. LMMC Type IX. Feature 5, phase 38. Suggested date 13th to 14th century. Parallels: LMMC 1975: Fig 43, 5, Fig 11, 22. 23 Two joined S-shape links of rounded section found in association with an L-shaped rod. The stem of the rod has been hammered flat and retains an edge of a circular perforation. Pieces of padlock? Feature 1, phase 3B. Parallels: Goodall 1981: Fig 57, 1, Fig 11,
23. Two joined S-shape links of rounded section found in association with an L-shaped rod. The stem of the rod has been hammered flat and retains an edge of a circular perforation. Pieces of padlock? Feature 1, phase 3B. Parallels: Goodall 1981: Fig 57, 1, Fig 11, 23.
24. Brass plated padlock bolt, `U'-shaped with rectangular end plate, split spine and free arm. Feature 39, phase 38. Parallels: Williams 1979: Fig 116, 4, Fig 11, 24.
25. Brass plated padlock bolt, 'U-shaped with rectangular end plate, spine originally split but damaged, length 75 mm. Feature 8, phase 3B. Parallels: Williams 1979: Fig 116, 4.
26. Hinge pivot with rectangular sectioned tang and rounded-square upright. Length 63.5 mm, height 48.4 mm. Feature 4, phase 3A/B.
27. Catch? roughly `L'-shaped strip, one end bent over, length 54.6mm. Features 15, phase 38. Parallels: Williams 1979: Fig 109, 52.
28. Three-armed claw-like flesh hook, tang and two arms damaged. Feature 4, phase 3A/B. Fig 11, 28. Parallels: Goodall 1981:60. 29 Hinge mechanism or harness fitting? roughly `U'-shaped object. The bend of the 'LP has been flattened and has a circular perforation stamped through it. One arm of the object has a countersunk rectangular perforation with an iron rivet in situ. About one third of the way along its length there is a rectangular tab projecting at right angles from the arm. This has a circular perforation. The second arm has a stamped circular perforation near the bend of the `U'.. This arm is slightly bent and its end is broken off. Unstratified. Fig 11, 29.
30. Knife, moulded handle with decorative knop; oval in section the blade does not survive. Feature 1, phase 3B. Suggested date 17th century. Fig 11, 30. Parallels: Moorhouse 1971: Fig 17, 6 and 7. Williams and Farwell 1984: Fig 12, 7.
31. Knife blade fragment, triangular in section, straight backed blade with curved cutting edge; remaining length 109.4 mm. Feature 4, phase 3A/B.
32. Knife blade fragment, triangular in section, straight back and cutting edge both tapering to a point, remaining length 97.6 mm. Feature 6, phase 3B.
33. Knife blade fragment, in very poor condition, triangular in section, remaining length 122.2 mm. Feature 8, phase 3B.
34. Knife blade fragment; triangular in section, straight backed blade, cutting edge angled to point; tip and tang do not survive. Remaining length 63.8 mm. Feature 15, phase 3B.
35. Knife blade fragment, triangular in section, straight cutting edge and straight back starting to angle towards tip. Tip and tang do not survive, remaining length 68 mm. Feature 7, phase 3B.
36. Mood for knife?; yet to be ground and finished, rectangular in section. Feature 4, phase 3A/B. Fig 11, 36.
37. Shears, incomplete, only handle and beginning of recess survive. Feature 23, phase 3B. Fig 11, 37.
38. Socketed and pointed ferrule, incomplete and: damaged, oval in section, remaining length 82 mm. Unstratified.
39. Socketed and pointed ferrule? in very poor condition, oval in section, remaining length 43 mm.
40. Mount? rectangular sheet with slightly off-centre perforation, dimensions 27.5 by 21.5 mm. Feature 4, phase 3A/B.
41. Swivel hook, domed rectangular head and rectangular sectioned shank, point missing. Feature 23, phase 3B. Parallels: Williams 1979: Fig 119, 77; Fig 11, 41.
42. Staple, incomplete, one end in-turned, square in section remaining length 59 mm. Features 2, 3 and 4, phase 3A/B.
43. 'LP-shaped staple, square in section, length 62 mm. Feature 6, phase 3B.
44. Staple? rectangular in plan and section, length 98.3 mm. Feature 28, phase 3B.
45. Staple, rectangular in plan and section, remaining length 104mm. Feature 23, phase 3B.
46. Link, incomplete, square in section, length 55 mm. Feature 4, phase 3A.
47. Ring (harness?), incomplete, square in section, estimated diameter 50 mm. Feature 8, phase 3B.

Nails (48-95)
In all 48 nails were recovered. These were typed, where possible, according to head form using Goodall 1973: 173-5. Twenty-one examples had incomplete heads (75-95). The majority of nails were for timber and all had square or rectangular sectioned shanks. The surviving points were either wedge-shaped (13) or rounded (4). Only three shoeing nails were recovered and these were all of the fiddle key variety suggesting a date pre-14th century. The nail types and examples are listed below with feature numbers indicated. One of each type of nail is illustrated.

Timber Nails
1 Flat-headed
a squared: 2 examples from feature 15, heads 25 by 25 mm, and 14 by 14 mm; shanks 4.5 by 4 mm, and6 by 5 mm; length, only one complete, 61.5 mm (no 48-49) Fig II, 48.
b rectangular: 2 examples from feature 25 and:39, heads 19 by 11 mm, and 13 by 16 mm; shanks 5 by 5 mm, and 4.5 by 5 mm; lengths 64 mm and 46 mm (no 50-51) Fig 11, 50.
c long-rec....angular: 5 examples from features 4 (2), 9 (1), and 15 (2), four heads below 20 mm, ranging from 9 by 5 mm to 17 by 17 mm, one head 23 by 18 mm; shanks between 5 by 5 mm to 6 by 4.5 mm; no complete lengths (no 52; 56), Fig II, 52.
4 [sic – d] rectangular off-set: 1 example from feature 4, head 6.5 by 5 mm, shank 4 by 3.5 mm, length incomplete (no 57) Fig 11, 57.
e Diamond shape: 3 examples from feature 4 (2)and 15(1) heads 19 by 16 mm, 20 by 15 mm and 14 by 10.5; shanks 6 by 5 mm, 6.5 by 4.5 mm, 3 by 3 mm; complete lengths 76 mm and 46 mm (no 58- 60), Fig 11, 58.
Raised-faceted: 4 examples from feature 1 (1 disintegrated), 4 (1), l 4a (1), and 15 (1), heads 9.5 by 7 mm, 11 by 4.5 mm, 11 by 12 mm, shanks 4.5 by .4.5 mm, 4.5 by 5.5 mm, 4 by 5.5 mm; complete lengths 58.4 mm and 35 mm (no 61-64) Fig 11, 61. Flaring wedge-shaped shank: 7 examples from features 1-4 (1), 6 (2), 15 (2),, 23 (1) and 28 (1), heads all under 20 mm, ranging between 12.5 by 8 mm and 5.5 by 4 mrn; shanks range between 12 by 7 mm and 5 by 4 mm; complete Lengths 51 mm and 52 mm (no 65-71) Fig 11,, 65.

Shoeing Nails
Fiddle key: 3 examples from feature 4 '(2) and 15 (1) all with rectangular shanks, lengths between 34 and 38.4 mm (no 72-74), Fig 11, 72.

Worked Bone
96. Decorated and perforated bone plat with triple ring and dot ornament with borders of parallel incised lines. Feature 56, phase 3A/B. Suggested date late Saxon-early Medieval. Fig 12, 96. Parallels: Williams 1979: Fig 141, 83. Coad and Streeton 1982: Fig 46, 21.
97. Beast-head terminal, tubular fitting in the form of a beast’s head with open jaws. At the underside of the back of the head is a T-shaped: recess, either side of the base of the T having a circular perforation. Feature 4, phase 3A/B. Suggested date late 1 1th century. Fig 12, 97. Parallels: Backhouse, Turner and Webster 1984: 208-09, catalogue no 274.

Window Glass
98. Painted glass fragment, pot ash glass with a small portion of curvilinear design surviving, portion of one grozed edge survives. Thickness 4 mm. Feature 8, phase 3B.

Vessel Glass
99. Bottle fragments of mid-green glass from base and body of 18th century vessel. Unstratified. Parallels: Baker et al 1979: catalogue No 1185. 100 Light apple green glass fragment, form indeterminate, thickness 2.5 mm. Feature 8, phase 3B. Modern.
101. Clear glass fragment, form indeterminate, thickness 1.5 mm. U nstratified. 102 Light green glass fragment, form indeterminate; portions of an incised leaf pattern? survive, thickness 3.3 mm. Feature 1, phase 3B.

Worked Stone
103. Barbed and tanged arrow-head, Bronze Age, of translucent grey flint. Feature 5, phase 3B. Fig 12, 103.
104. Perforated whetstone of schist, rectangular in plan and section,. with edge of circular perforation surviving along break. Surfaces and edges smoothed. Feature 4, phase 3A/B.
105. Whetstone fragment of sandstone, roughly rectangular in plan and section, smoothed surfaces, remaining length 77.4 m. Feature 6, phase 3B.
106. Sharpening stone, sub-rectangular in plan and section, all surfaces have numerous shallow, 'V' shaped grooves. One side shows signs of dishing suggesting use as a whetstone; length 78.6 mm. Feature 1, phase 3B.
107. Architectural fragment? limestone rectangular in plan with bevelled edges on obverse face and highly smoothed reverse face. Feature 8, phase 3B.
108. Pot or rotary quem fragment of pumice or tree fossil, the outer edge has a regular pattern of diagonal notches. The edge of a circular depression for an upright handle survives on the obverse face, the reverse face is smoothed from use; roughly triangular in plan and rectangular in section, remaining length 211 mm. Feature 'old pre-mound soil', phase 1.

Finds by phase

PHASE 1
Stone, 108, Pot or rotary quern.

PHASE 2
No finds

Phase 3A/B
Silver, 1, Alexander III penny, 1280-1286+
Copper alloy, 5, lace cap, per 16th C
Copper alloy, 7, heraldic badge or jousting strap fitting, 14th to 15th C
Copper alloy, 12, strap fitting,
Copper alloy, 16, vessel rim (repair)
Iron, 20, harness buckle
Iron, 26, hinge pivot
Iron, 28, flesh hook
Iron, 31, knife blade fragment
Iron, 36, mood for knife (?)
Iron, 39, ferrule (?)
Iron, 40, mount (?)
Iron, 42, staple
Iron, 46, link, timber nails (7), fiddle key nails (2), pre-14th C
Worked bone, 96, decorated bone, late 9th to 12th C
Worked bone, 97, beast headed terminal, late 11th C
Stone, 104, perforated whetstone

PHASE 3B
2. pin, 16th to 17th C
6. lace tag, pre-16th C
8. circular mount
9. gilt binding strip, 12th to 13th C
10. binding strip
14.rumbler bell, 14th C
15. harness ring
17. coin weight
18. flashing
19. harness buckle, 12th to 13th C
21. double buckle
22. key, 12th to 14th C
23. padlock components
24. padlock bolt, 12th to 15th C
25. padlock bolt, 12th to 15th C
27. catch
30. knife, moulded handle, 17th C
32-35. knife blade fragments (4)
37. shears
41. swivel hook
43-45. staples (3)
47. ring (harness), fiddle key nail, timber nails (17), pre-14th C
98. Painted glass fragment
100, 102. vessel fragments (2), modern
103. tanged flint arrowhead, Bronze Age
105. whetstone fragment
106. sharpening stone
107. architectural fragment

UNSTRATIFIED
Copper alloy
3. pin, 15th to 17th C
4. pin, 16th to 17th C
11. strap end fragment
13. heart-shaped handle (?)

Iron
29. hinge or harness fitting
38. ferrule

Glass
99. wine bottle fragments, 18th C
101. vessel fragment, modern (?)

DISCUSSION
The small finds recovered from the excavations of Chalgrave do not greatly add to our understanding of the site. Only one fragment of a quern stone came from Phase 1, while no small finds were attributable to Phase 2. The majority of datable small finds from Phase 3 (A and B) span from the 12th to 15th centuries, perhaps centring on the 13th to 14th centuries. However, two bone objects (nos 96 and 97) date to about the late 11th century and are perhaps residual, while the closest parallels for the moulded knife handle (no 30) are of 17th century date.
A number of the objects from Phase 3 can be classed as building fittings (eg staples, pivot, padlocks), while several are associated with horses (eg harness buckles and rings, a rumbler bell and the 'jousting shield'). The remaining finds are not easily placed in specific categories. The knives, vessel fragment, shears, flesh hook and whetstones might be considered of a more domestic nature, while only the lace tags and strap fitting can be classed as personal ornament. In summary, the majority of finds from Phase 3A and 3B appear to be of a similar date, C13th to 14th centuries, the coin of Alexander III (no 1) giving us the only 'certain' date. Due to the small number and varied character of the finds assemblage no firm conclusions can be drawn as to the nature or function of the motte in Phases 3A or 3B.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND by Stephen Coleman
Prior to Enclosure in 1800, that part of Chalgrave parish E of the Toddington to Dunstable/Houghton Regis road (A5120) consisted entirely of closes, while that to the W, the majority of the parish, lay chiefly as common fields surrounding the main settlements at Tebworth and Wingfield. This situation dated from at least the early medieval period when all the closes E of the A5120 were the manorial demesne lands for the Manor of Chalgrave. Only a relatively small amount of manorial demesne ever lay W of the road and that was arable, dispersed in pieces in the common fields of Tebworth and Wingfield; though of course the remainder of the common field area was held of the Manor of Chalgrave and was subject to its jurisdiction (Coleman, 1983; Coleman, 1986). The 'castle' stood on the NW corner of the demesne, as did the adjoining church which belonged to the lords of Chalgrave Manor until the later 12th century. From before the Norman Conquest until 1386 the manor was held by the Loring family, who may even have been the original founders of the church as a seigneurial church. It is unlikely that such a manorial church would have been built far from its manor house: the 'castle' or an adjoining plot could well have been the site of the early medieval manor house for the Manor of Chalgrave, especially as this was probably on the most suitable site for settlement in the parish and in a prime topographical position (VCH Bedfordshire, 1912, 345-6; Dale 1950, xviii-xix).
Sometime before 1185 Roger Loring granted the church and some land to Dunstable Priory. The church was rebuilt in the early 13th century, presumably to give more room to fulfil the new role it acquired as a parish church, and was rededicated in 1219 (Fowler, 1926, 75, 104, 246; Richards Luard, 1866, 56). The reason for the isolation of the present All Saints' Church is its predecessor's origins as a manorial church; there was never any substantial settlement to serve close by it, and the main settlements throughout the medieval period were always away at Tebworth and Wingfield. In 1220 Chalgrave vicarage was ordained, with closes (formerly part of the demesne) to the W, N and S of the church being given as glebe land (Fig, 13). The close to the S of the churchyard and the W side of the 'castle' was selected as a vicarage house site (Richards Luard, 1866, 59; Davis, 1908, 3; VCH Bedfordshire, 1912, 348; Fowler, 1926, 20-1; Bedfordshire CRO: ABE 1, 1693; ABE 2, 1709). Clearly the demesne immediately adjacent to the 'castle' site was being eroded in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. This and the giving away of the church may indicate a decreasing interest in the location by the Lorings. The only known documentary information relating directly to a manor house belonging to the Lorings dates from just after the death of Sir Nigel Loring in 1386. The Manor of Chalgrave was then to be shared between his two daughters and co-heirs, the proposed division being described in a survey of 1386-7. Even the manor house and its farmstead were to be divided: the buildings were described in detail and indicated an extensive complex, including a chapel and several gardens and orchards adjacent, all lying close to a moat, some ponds and the corner of the Loring's park which are also mentioned (Dale, 1950 xxxi-xxxii). The reference to a manorial chapel, the lack of any reference to All Saints' Church or its churchyard in any of the abbuttals, the size of the complex and its proximity to a moat and ponds suggest that this manor house must have been somewhere on the lower lying part of the demesne SE of the church, where a ready water supply was provided by several head water tributaries of the river Flitt. A moat and associated fishponds survive today along the course of one of these tributaries at TL01692719, Just S of Chalgrave Manor Farm. The latter was the post-medieval manor house and was probably the site of the manor house described in 1386-7. It is also possible that the moat may have preceded Chalgrave Manor Farm as a manor house site.
If the 'castle' area was also the early medieval manor house site, the Lorings must have decided to abandon it well before 1386 for a lower lying site, perhaps initially for a newly dug moat which would have been fashionable in the later 12th and 13th centuries. Any abandonment of the 'castle' could possibly have coincided with the granting of the church and adjoining land to Dunstable Priory.

DISCUSSION
The dating of the various phases must remain tentative. The ceramic evidence shows a distinction between phases 1 and 2, whereas the pottery from phase 2 is very similar to that from phase 3. This would suggest that either phases 2 and 3 are near contemporaries or that pottery from phase 3 is derived from earlier periods on the site. The only datable historical event associated with the site is the granting of the nearby church to Dunstable Priory, sometime before 1185, and its re-dedication in 1219. It seems likely that the change of status of the church reflects a change of use of the site. In this case 1219 would be a terminus ante quem for the removal of the site of the manor house downhill, to the E; although it is perhaps more likely that this would have occurred around 1185 when ownership of the church changed hands. To identify the phase which corresponds to this event one must turn to the small finds. The material from the make-up of the -motte extension is residual, a bone plate (Fig 12.96) that dates from the late Saxon or early medieval period. Layer 4, the loam that separates phase 3a from 3b, contains a mixture of material. The presence of a quantity. of residual pottery and 1 lth century carved bone terminal (Fig 12.97), and the fact that the layer was not directly associated with any structures (overlaying the filling of the phase 2 rectangular hollow, and under-lying the enigmatic deposits of phase 3b) suggest that the soil was imported to make up the level of the extended mound prior to the construction of the phase 3b buildings, rather than churned up in situ by activity on the motte itself, unless that activity required the area free from structures (such as using it to pen animals), although there was no, evidence of any surrounding fence, and the soil horizon seems to have been rather too clear to suggest this. Together with this residual material was a coin that must date from after 1280. There does seem to have been some contamination of the later disturbance. However, if this coin is accepted as contemporary with the deposition of 4, then a terminus post quem of c1280 has to be accepted for the construction of the phase 3b buildings, if one accepts the evidence of the small bronze shield (Fig 10, 7), then a date in the fourteenth century would seem likely for the deposition of layer 4. The finds from the final building phase would seem to confirm this conjecture, and although none are closely datable they can be broadly assigned to the period 12th and 14th centuries with at least one, the key, being datable to the end of the 13th century. Thus it would seem likely that phase 3b dates from after the move of the manor house. This would conform to common sense, as the buildings of phase 3b do not have any evidence of domestic use; no hearths or ovens and apparently no contemporary pottery that would suggest a continuation of the function of the site from phase 2. Some of the finds from this phase suggest more a connection with horses or other agricultural activity rather than being derived from domestic use. By 1220 the site was bounded on three sides by church owned land, and there would be little else to do with such a small parcel of land but to re-use it for agricultural buildings. What is not at all clear is the relationship between phases 3a and 3b. If the two phases were broadly contemporary then one must explain why the effort was made to recut the surrounding ditch, when all it apparently enclosed was a group of barns or stables. It is quite possible therefore that phase 3a represents an enlargement of a still functioning motte, prior to the moving of the manor at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. During only one, or possibly two phases, therefore, did the site actually function as a castle (phase 2 and possibly phase 3A). Phase 2 is very difficult to date. There are no datable small finds and, as has been said above, the pottery is of no use as a tool for close dating. Unfortunately only a small portion of this phase was dug. It is for instance, not known whether the central feature (14) represents an earlier building round which the motte was piled, or a structure built into the top of the mound. The difficulties are compounded because there was so little time to investigate the pre-mound occupation. The most easily datable, pre-13th century artefacts occur as residual material in phase 3. However, they do offer a guide to the length of time that the site was occupied. It might be tempting to say that the late 1 1 th century animal head finial gives a date by which the site was occupied. Although, as has been said, the pottery from phase 2 is not closely datable, the general forms suggest a production date of the late 1 1 th or early 12th century when compared with other regions. As not enough of the pre-motte ground surface was excavated to judge the nature of the occupation, it cannot be certain that prior to the construction of the castle the site was not already occupied by an early manor house. The features discovered under the motte present problems in both interpretation and dating. Whilst there is obviously some occupation under the motte, as discussed above its nature, extent and date cannot be reliably postulated on the evidence we have. Although it would make an interesting sequence of occupation if the motte had been constructed over, and possibly around, an earlier manor house, there is only very limited evidence available. There is some early pottery from this phase, but generally the quantity recovered is not sufficient to interpret the presence of any occupation immediately prior to the construction of the motte being very intensive. Again it must be stressed that a very small sample is being dealt with. The sequence of occupation therefore is as follows: a manor house was built (possibly at the end of the 1 1th century) over an earlier occupation site. This house was constructed in accordance with the normal motte and bailey plan. On the excavated evidence it is not possible to ascertain how strong the defences of the castle were: this would be dependent on knowing if the motte was revetted and how high the central building was. It would seem likely though that the castle was constructed more for a show of strength, than with a serious intention to defend. This house was used until the end of the 12th century (possibly being enlarged during its occupation by extending the motte, phase 3a) when it was abandoned in favour of a new position, probably due to pressures of fashion rather than any inherent disadvantages in the site. After some years the disused motte was increased in height (layer 4) and some form of agricultural building constructed.

<32> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Record Cards, OS: TL 02 NW 16 (Unpublished document). SBD10879.

TL 0095 2738 Earthwork (NR) (OS 6" 1960)
A small motte and bailey, excavated in 1970 and since completely levelled. It had been constructed in two phases and abandoned in the 13th century. Traces of a manorial site of several periods and of an 11th century timber manor-house were found during the excavations, the latter under the motte. (DoE/E 1970 5 25 (B K Davison); CBA Gp 9 N/L No. 1 1971, pp. 16-7(B K Davison) PJF 25/1/1973
Amorphous ground disturbance in a harvested wheat field indicates the site of the motte and bailey, but the plan cannot be interpreted from ground inspection. No further information; excavations were done from London and the locals know nothing. NKB 17/08/1973

<33> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Record Cards, OS: TL 02 NW 17 (Unpublished document). SBD10879.

TL 011272 Earthworks (NAT) (Four mounds shown) (OS 6" 1960)
Chalgrave DMV listed in 1962 at TL 010 270. This site, including the adjoining series of earthworks superimposed on ridge and furrow, was levelled during 1969 and 1970, but no village remains were observed. (DMV Res Gp 10th A/R 1962 App A1; Ibid 17th A/R 1969 13; Ibid 18th A/R 1970 12).
(PJF 25/01/1973).
No trace and no further information. (NKB 17/08/1973).

<34> (Deserted) Medieval Village Research Group, (Deserted) Medieval Village Research Group Annual Report, Vol. 18, 1970, p. 12 (Article in serial). SBD11422.

(TL 010 270) Site levelled during this year (1970). This largely comprised of the low motte or moat which was excavated by B Davison for MPBW. No remains of the village were observed during levelling.

<35> (Deserted) Medieval Village Research Group, (Deserted) Medieval Village Research Group Annual Report, Vol. 30, 1982, p. 5 (S. Coleman and J. Wood) (Article in serial). SBD11422.

Documentary work suggests that the supposed DMV on the parish edge at Chalgrave (TL 009 274) may never have been more than a handful of cottages with a church and manorial complex. The latter was moved to another, more easterly, site during the early 13th century when, as now, the main settlement foci in the parish were at Tebworth and Wingfield. At the latter site (TL 000 260) shrunken village earthworks survive. [See HER 1874].

<36> Council for British Archaeology, 1992, South Midlands Archaeology, Volume 22, Vol. 22, 1992, pp. 10-12 (Fieldwalking 1971 - Ren Hudspith) (Serial). SBD14135.

TL 008275 Ploughed out Motte and manorial hamlet, sherd, tile and stone scatters.
MEDIEVAL: the pottery finds at Hill Farm [HER 1874] mainly came from the area of ploughed out building platforms and not scattered across the fields. A similar observation was made about the Medieval pottery finds from the ploughed out motte site near Chalgrave Church (Pinder & Davison, 1988, "The Excavation of a Motte & Bailey Castle at Chalgrave, Beds.", Beds. Arch. Vol. 18).
The pottery from Wingfield [HER 1874] and Chalgrave has a suggested date range of 11th-14th centuries, with both sites yielding quantities of developed St Neots type shelly wares, grey and brown sandy wares and a few fragments of green glazed wares.
POST MEDIEVAL: A generally thin scatter of material tile, brick, glass and potsherds indicated post-medieval manuring scatters. Denser scatters were noted around Church Cottage, Chalgrave Church, New Barn and along the Wingfield Road, indicating the sites of former buildings.

<37> Manshead Archaeological Society of Dunstable, The Manshead Magazine/Journal of the Manshead Archaeological Society of Dunstable, Vol. 32, Vol. 32, 1992, pp. 11-17 (Serial). SBD14199.

As per Ref. 36.

<38> Bedfordshire County Council, Planning Dept File (Unpublished document). SBD11426.

Planning correspondence re. Chalgrave Golf Course Construction (Archaeology & Conservation).

<39> NMR/AMIE, HE NRHE Monument Inventory, 359611 (Index). SBD12367.

A small motte and bailey, excavated in 1970 and since completely levelled. It had been constructed in two phases and abandoned in the 13th century. Traces of a manorial site of several periods and of an 11th century timber manor-house were found during the excavations, the latter under the motte.

<40> NMR/AMIE, HE NRHE Monument Inventory, 359614 (Index). SBD12367.

A deserted Medieval village seen as cropmarks.

<41> Andrew Miller, 1995, RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project, NMR, TL 0027/1/161-167; TL 0127/1-3 (Archaeological Report). SBD12554.

A rapid examination of air photography (6a) suggests the presence of a number of possible enclosures, seen as very faint earthworks and cropmarks, and a possible trackway also visible as earthworks and cropmarks (the features are visible as earthworks in 1953 but are cropmarks by 1973). The features are visible around TL 010 273 and may represent the remains of Chalgrave deserted Medieval village. Air photography also shows extensive ridge and furrow around Chalgrave, making the NGR given by authorities (2-4) unlikely to be the site of a deserted village. The 'earthworks' noted by the previous authorities are now recorded as TL 02 NW 42.

<42> Stephen Coleman, 1983, Chalgrave Parish Survey, Map 2 (Extract) (Unpublished document). SBD12663.

Transcript from Enclosure Map, 1797, shows church and just a handful of buildings to its east.

<43> Stephen R. Coleman, 1986, Chalgrave: Bedfordshire Parish Surveys No. 6, Historic Landscape and Archaeology, pp. 14-15, 17-21, Map 1 (Bibliographic reference). SBD12071.

The early medieval focus of the Manor of Chalgrave was in the north-east of the parish close to where East Coten is recorded in 926. The earthwork remains of the 12th century manor house site survived until 1970 when they were levelled for agriculture: they consisted of a low mound or motte and an adjoining courtyard or bailey lying immediately south east of the church. The site was very similar to the many motte and bailey castles that were constructed in England during the late 11th and early 12th centuries. However, the earthworks at Chalgrave were not massive and were probably built more for show than strength; although in a prominent position topographically, with the ground soon dropping sharply to the south east, a better defensive position would have been 200m to the east right at the top of the slope.

The earthworks were partially excavated before destruction. Unfortunately the limited amount of work that was possible did not show whether the original circular motte
was constructed at the end of the 11th century over a previous manor house site. However, during the 12th century a rectangular building stood on the motte which itself was extended north westwards to an oval shape, possibly in the latter half of the century. At the end of the 12th or early in the 13th century the site was abandoned in favour of a new lower lying position for the mano house in an even more isolated location at the foot of the hill to the east. After a period of disuse the motte was heightened and brought back into use during the 14th century, but only for agricultural buildings.

Note that as shown on the extract from Map 1 ridge and furrow once entirely surrounded the small area occupied by the church, Church Green and associated small closes.

<44> Heritage Network, 2019, All Saints' Church, Chalgrave; Archaeological Monitoring (Archaeological Report). SBD14246.

No archaeological features or deposits were revealed during the present project.

Protected Status:

• Archaeological Notification Area (AI) HER721: MOTTE & BAILEY CASTLE AND SUPPOSED VILLAGE SITE, Chalgrave Church
• SHINE: Small Medieval Motte and Bailey Castle and Ridge and Furrow

Monument Type(s):

• BUILDING (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• CASTLE (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• MOTTE AND BAILEY (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• RIDGE AND FURROW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

• FBD14341 - ROTARY QUERN (Unknown date)
• FBD14340 - WHETSTONE (Unknown date)
• FBD14339 - BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD (Prehistoric - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• FBD14321 - SHERD (Roman/Romano-British - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FBD14322 - SHERD (Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• FBD5884 - FLESH HOOK (11th Century - 1000 AD to 1099 AD)
• FBD1426 - NAIL (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD14323 - SHERD (11th Century to 12th Century - 1000 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD14332 - SHOEING NAIL (11th Century to 13th Century - 1000 AD to 1299 AD)
• FBD5886 - WORKED OBJECT (11th Century - 1050 AD to 1099 AD)
• FBD14334 - FERRULE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD14329 - HANDLE (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• FBD14331 - HARNESS RING (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• FBD14335 - HOOK (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD14328 - MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD14320 - NAIL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD14333 - SHEARS (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD14336 - STAPLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD14337 - WINDOW GLASS (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD5880 - BUCKLE (12th Century to 13th Century - 1100 AD to 1299 AD)
• FBD5883 - HINGE (12th Century - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD5885 - KNIFE (12th Century - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD5882 - PADLOCK (12th Century - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD5879 - PLAQUE (12th Century - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD14318 - SHERD (12th Century - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD5878 - STRAP (12th Century to 13th Century - 1100 AD to 1299 AD)
• FBD14319 - TILE (12th Century - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)
• FBD5881 - KEY (LOCKING) (13th Century to 14th Century - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
• FBD14326 - COIN (13th Century - 1249 AD to 1286 AD)
• FBD5877 - BADGE (14th Century to 15th Century - 1300 AD? to 1499 AD?)
• FBD14330 - CROTAL (14th Century - 1300 AD to 1399 AD)
• FBD14324 - SHERD (14th Century to 15th Century - 1300 AD to 1499 AD)
• FBD14327 - LACE TAG (16th Century to 17th Century - 1500 AD to 1699 AD)
• FBD14325 - PIN (16th Century to 17th Century - 1500 AD to 1699 AD)
• FBD14338 - SHERD (18th Century to Modern - 1700 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Events

• EBD1364 - Excavation to locate lost manor of Chalgrave
• EBD1365 - The Excavation of a Motte and Bailey Castle at Chalgrave, Bedfordshire, 1970
• EBD1366 - Fieldwalking in Chalgrave 1991
• EBD2418 - All Saints' Church, Chalgrave; Archaeological Monitoring (Ref: 1202)

Sources and Further Reading

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