More information : [SK 98643657] Ropsley Grange [G.T.] (Site of). [Centred SK 98603652]
Roman Camp [G.S.]. (1)
A grange of the Cistercian Abbey of Vandey on Ropsey Heath is first
mentioned in 1189-90. The last mention of a building on the site is
c.1550.
Ploughing in 1944 revealed vast quantities of foundations and in 1954
trial excavations were made. The grange was situated inside a roughly
rectangular enclosure with an inturned entrance near the SE corner.
The only part of the enclosure surviving is a stretch of the north
side, consisting of a stone wall averaging 3'3" thick. The main
building of the grange [at `A' SK 98593650] was partly excavated and
massive stone walls and a hearth discovered. Finds were dated from
early 13th to early 16th century.
[A.O./LP/63/327]
OS Maps and the Ancient Monuments Act of 1930 described the
site as a `Roman Camp' but nothing of this date was found. Now
scheduled as `Site of Cistercian Grange.' (2-4)
Precinct walls and internal building clearly visible on air
photographs. (5)
Published survey (25") revised. There are no surface remains
visible. (6)
The Cistercian grange, described by authorities 1-6, was seen as
cropmarks and mapped from good quality air photographs. The
cropmarks, which represent foundation walls, revealed the extent of
the enclosing wall (referred to as the `Precinct' wall by authority
5), and at least fourteen internal buildings and several courtyards,
centred at SK 9864 3657.
The 'precinct' enclosure, 305m wide, has a straight southern side
and convex western and eastern sides, but the northern side (revealed
by excavation) was not visible on air photographs. The eastern side
of the enclosure has a substantial inturned funnel entrance at
SK 9878 3653, which leads into a large courtyard, centred at
SK 9869 3654. The courtyard is enclosed on all four sides by ranges
of buildings and another smaller courtyard on its western side at
SK 9862 3648, with an entrance between them. Two other entrances can
be identified on the eastern side of the grange enclosure, at
SK 9878 3657 and SK 9877 3648, which also lead into two possible
small courtyard areas.
The buildings around the large courtyard vary in size and shape.
The rectangular building at the north-west corner, at SK 9859 3652,
measuring 22m by 20m with internal divisions, had previously been
identified during excavation of the site as the main building of the
grange (see authorities 2-4). However, in the western half of the
grange enclosure is a very substantial rectangular building, 70m by
25m, centred at SK 9859 3652, identified from air photographs.
(Morph No. LI.837.1.1-19)
The quarry to the north-west of the site may have been the source
of the limestone building material for the grange (see SK 93 NE 36).
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (7)
The above site was visited, but no evidence of the Monastic Grange
was visible in the field, which was under arable cultivation. (8) |