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Summary

Founded at the same time as the abbey as a hermitage, in the 13th century it became grange that was used as a summer retreat for the abbot and senior monks. The current house incorporates elements of the 13th century structure.

Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CHAPEL (14th century - 1301 AD to 1400 AD)
• HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• GRANGE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• HERMITAGE (RELIGIOUS) (13th century - 1201 AD to 1300 AD)

Associated Events:

• Excavations at Bodsey House, Ramsey, 1968

Protected Status:

• Listed Building (I) 1166717: Bodsey House

Full description

1. Bodsey House (NR);

5. A comprehensive examination of this house has recently been undertaken and a plan made. The principal remains consist of along late C13 building of stone, at the S end of which was added a large chapel in the C14. ...... The C13 block has two rectangular lights with their ironwork in the E wall and there are traces of two more, blocked up, in the W wall. The Cromwells destroyed the E bay of the chapel and divided the building into two floors, inserting a large fireplace at the E end. They also added a large hall and solar projecting W from the SW end of the C13 building, above which is now a bedroom with a unique coved timber-framed ceiling. At the SE end is a contemporary arched doorway and at the SW end is a C14 doorway opening to the Hall. There are remains of another doorway, partially blocked and much mutilated, in the centre of this wall. At the N end is the kitchen with part of a huge fireplace arch and recess. The chapel was formerly 45ft long but the E 15ft have been destroyed. Recent excavations have exposed the E wall, the double NE Buttress and the foundations of the altar. In the S wall are parts of two large windows, and an ogee-headed doorway at the NW opens to the C13 building.

6. The principal remains consist of a long, late C13 building of stone at the S end of which a large chapel was added in the C14.Two C13 rectangular lights remain in the E wall and there are traces of two more, blocked up, in the W wall. At the SE end is a contemporary arched doorway and the SW end a C14 doorway.

7. This interesting house stands about 1 1/2 miles NE of Ramsey on the road to Ramsey Mereside, on one of the low 'islands' which rose above the general level of the fens. Like Ramsey it is believed a hermitage originally stood on the site; it was given to the abbey as part of its original endowment by the Ealdorman Ailwyn. Eventually it became a grange and was also used as a summer holiday retreat for the abbot and senior monks. The house now standing upon the site is of various dates and is a complicated building. A large chapel of C14 date remains in part, but its windows have been blocked up and the building shortened and altered. On the N side is a range of buildings of Medieval date and two original rectangular windows once lighting the ground floor still exist. A moat formerly surrounded the house and in part remains.At the surrender of the abbey in 1539 it was assigned to the last abbot, John Lawrence, who retired there. ....... Many alterations took place in the C17 at which time two large chimney stacks with diagonal shafts were erected. Part of the building is of timber framing and a room upstairs has a most remarkable wooden barrel shaped roof divided into panels by cross beams and rafters.

8. There is a local tradition connecting Cnut (King of England 1016-35) to Bodsey. He is claimed to have had a hunting box here, but since it appears that Bodsey was part of the original grant to Ramsey Abbey by Aethelwine in 975AD, this is unlikely. Another story claims that his two 'drowned children' were buried here, and that a plaque saying so was extant in 1907. There is no corroboration for this story, and all of Cnut's known children survived to adulthood. A further note refers to wall paintings in the cellar, but again there is no corroboration.

<1> OS 6 inch map (Map). SCB8945.

<2> RCHM, 1926, An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Huntingdonshire, 209 - 211 (ill) (Bibliographic reference). SCB12619.

<3> Aug 1946, DOE (HRR) Ramsey RD, 2 (Unpublished document). SCB5379.

<4> Hurst, D.G., 1969, Medieval Britain in 1968: II, Post-Conquest. Med Arch 13: 243-87, p. 246 (Article in serial). SCB7404.

<5> Council for British Archaeology, 1968, CBA Group 7 Bulletin 15, (PGM Dickinson) (Serial). SCB1990.

<6> 1970, Records of Hunts, 1/5, 75- 79, (PGM Dickinson) (ill) (Bibliographic reference). SCB13848.

<7> Dickinson, P.G.M., 1971, Ramsey, p. 35 -36 (ill) (Bibliographic reference). SCB4938.

<8> 1996, Letter to Cambridgeshire County Council from property owners (Unpublished document). SCB19716.

<9> Cambridgeshire Garden Trust, 2000, The Gardens of Cambridgeshire: A Gazetteer, p148 (Bibliographic reference). SCB21348.

<10> Baird, J., Field Investigator Comments (Verbal communication). SCB62256.

<11> Pevsner, N., 1968, The Buildings of England. Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough (Bibliographic reference). SCB11224.

Sources and further reading

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