More information : The hamlet of North Rauceby is surrounded with considerable evidence
of major desertion and later shrinkage. The whole is clearly visible
on OS air photographs (76.137 76-78) which were taken in a period of
drought and, as far as can be ascertained, provide the first modern
evidence or knowledge of the site.
For convenience and clarity, the field report has been sub-divided
under three individual headings, each to coincide with the major
visible ground evidence.
Centred TF 019469. An area of extant earthworks, now under rough
pasture, comprising roads, fields, paddocks, a main droveway,
at least 12 buildings (including two long houses), ponds, and extant
walling. The earthworks achieve a maximum height of 1.3m, whilst the
main sunken drove has a maximum depth of 2.8m. To the immmediate
south east lines of buried walling are clearly visible in the
photographs but can be traced, only in part, on the ground.
Centred TF 022468. Visible on air photographs as a series of
long fields and associated roads, separated by clear walling but
identifiable only intermittently on the ground. The field
'lay-out' resembles the well known 'furlong fields' of Laxton,
Nottinghamshire. No buildings were identified in this area which
is now light pasture.
Centred TF 022462. A large spread of fields, paddocks, roads, a
major drove, at least 5 buildings, a fishpond, and a probable
mill mound.Most of the area has been scraped and ploughed.
Finds made during perambulation include early brick, tile,
mortar, rough Medieval and post Medieval pottery, glass,
fragments of iron (original purpose not identifiable), thatch
nails and charred timber.
No research has been undertaken; but the village tells of a
local 'legend' of an early village of North Rauceby.
Surveyed on 1:2500 MSDs. (1)
The Medieval and Post Medieval settlement associated with North
Rauceby, described by authority 1, was visible as earthworks and
mapped from good quality vertical air photographs. The majority of
the features located and described by the field survey were
identified on air photographs, except for the mill mound and only
some of the buildings were identified and mapped. Numerous hollows
were identified, but not mapped; some may be fishponds or
extraction pits/ robbed building plots.
In the area centred at TF 022468, the long fields were interpreted
as crofts, and at their northern end the foundations of a building
was identified. Other potential buildings may be located in a row
to the east of this building, but their plan was not clearly visible,
possibly due to stone robbing, and they were not mapped.
The features described by authority 1 centred at TF 022 462 are
more correctly located at TF 021 463.
Ridge and furrow, visible as earthworks, centred at TF 0219 4674,
lies to the east of the northern area of settlement. A single block
of ridge and furrow is also visible at TF 0192 4647.
(Morph No. LI.857.4.1-20)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(2) |