More information : TQ 205076: Old Erringham DMV, period of desertion unknown. (1)
TQ 205077: Excavations on the site of Old Erringham DMV in 1957 by EW. Holden, west of the chapel (TQ 20 NW 54) in expectation of finding a church, of which the chapel was thought to be the chancel, revealed the robbed flint wall foundations of a building 51 x 17 ft internally, also some pottery fragments, the earliest of them possibly 12th c. There was no floor except for the well trodden solid chalk. The building was ecclesiastical in origins, with both general pre- and post-Coquest features, and was reused as a farm building, probably stables, up to the late 17thc. It had disappeared by 1787. (2)
South of the Chapel a 'V' ditch, 6' deep, fronting a chalk bank (which contained post holes) was sectioned. This earthwork appears to be a defence which surrounded the Chapel. Pottery in the bank and ditch was 12th cent: but 2 pennies of Aethelred II, minted 992-8, were sealed below the bank. See Map Diagram. (3-4)
There are no visible traces of desertion around or amongst the buildings of old Erringham Farm.
The site of the 1957 excavations is now occupied by three farm-workers' houses. (5)
Brief note on Holden's excavation. (6)
Imported polychrome pottery - sherds from Old Erringham Farm. (7)
Holden's excavations revealed a number of features of Early Medieval, Medieval and late Medieval date. The most important are on apparently incomplete circular enclosure (or `ringwork') surrounding the Chapel/Church (see also TQ 20 NW 54). Other features include a salt mound and a lime kiln (see TQ 20 NW 62). Pottery and other finds were predominantly Medieval and later, although EM pottery and a possible late Saxon burial were found, as well as RB potsherds and two EM coins of Aethelred 11. A later manor house sits astride the ringwork bank. (8) |