More information : [TF 1058 3253] Site of Hall [GT] and site of Sempringham Priory [GT]
(Gilbertine, Founded c. A.D.1131); [TF 1069 3284] HOLY WELL [GT]
(Chalybeate); [TF 1018 3244] FISH PONDS; [GT] [TF 1001 3221] BATH GT (Remains of). (1)
Circa 1131 Gilbert de Sempringham set up buildings for seven maidens of the parish against the north wall of the parish church, and in 1139 Sempringham Priory was founded on a site to the south-west. It later became a double house which by 1319 had 200 women and 40 canons. The house was surrendered in 1538. Excavations in 1938/9 revealed extensive foundations of the Priory, and also showed that there had been a post-Dissolution mansion, c.1580, which was pulled down about 1616, before completion, and its plinth banked up to form the earthwork at TF 1059 3253. North of this there had been a smaller 16th-18th century farmhouse. To the east of the earthwork was found a small mound of post-Dissolution rubbish, which stood exactly over the south east angle of the Priory Church. AD/64/302: 4, 5, 6 and 7 A sherd of Stamford Ware and 13th to 16th century pottery from the Priory site is in Lincoln Museum, 18.63. The bath is a spring, possibly with conduit supplying the Hall or Priory. In 1929 it was a mudhole with fragments or tiles. (5)
The well and the fishponds of the Priory remain. (2-7)
Perambulation of the Priory and surrounding fields revealed sherds of green glaze and other medieval pottery, also much building stone. Published survey (25") revised. For the well at TF 1079 3289 see G.Ps. AO/65/25/1 & 2.
For the spring at TF 1040 3253 see G.P. AO/65/25/3. (8)
In the area SW of the church site are traces of stone walled enclosures outside the precinct as shown on the sketch plan. The spring is located in a low lying area between the fishpond complex and the bank identified as the garden wall by authy 1, but it
may well have been another dam embaying a nearly square pond since drained. The well is now in the SW corner of the present churchyard extension. (9)
New agricultural drain cut fishponds and industrial area west of priory site. Stone walls, industrial debris and cobbled lining of fishpond noted. (10-11)
TF 106 325. Sempringham Priory (site of). Scheduled no. LI/188. (12) |