More information : [Name TF 2481 8867] Calcethorpe Village [GT] (Site of).
[TF 2486 8874] Church [GT] (Site of). (1)
Calcethorpe was depopulated and the church down about 1450. In 1563 there were 4 or 7 families only. Earthworks, known locally as Priest's Close, surround Manor Farm. Air photographs give some indication of the extent of the village. Scheduled. (2-4)
The earthworks, steadings and associated strip fields forming this deserted village have been surveyed at 1/2500. (5)
The extensive remains of Calcethorpe deserted medieval village are visible under permanent pasture on the lower slopes of on E-W valley. The earthworks comprise a hollow way running E-W, the remains of at least thirteen house platforms (average size about 14.0m long by 8.0m wide), with associated small crofts and larger ditched enclosures. The enclosure earthworks attain a height of 1.5-2.0m in places.
The supposed site of the church, centred TF 24868874, is marked by a building platform 14.0m long by 0.6m high, orientated E-W.
Surface quarrying has disturbed some of the enclosures and steadings.
1-2500 Survey 1963 correct. (6)
Additional reference. (7)
The Medieval deserted village of Calcethorpe has more extensive
remains than those described by the previous authorities. The
settlement remains were seen as cropmarks and earthworks and mapped
from good quality air photographs. The remains are divided by a
series of hollow ways which run E-W (as described by authority 6),
with N-S branches connecting them. The main section is up to 700m
long, running from TF 2430 8894 to TF 2495 8883. Other hollow ways
are centred at TF 2481 8889, TF 2462 8870, TF 2479 8849 and TF 2472
8863.
Up to about 40 bank-defined enclosures were recorded, representing
tofts, crofts and larger enclosures. They line the hollow ways.
There is a particularly good example of six long linear properties
at TF 2469 8870. The remains of four buildings, approximately 14m
by 8m, are located in the centre of the village at TF 2470 8878.
There is an earthwork platform at the same location as the church,
quoted by authority 1. The two may be connected but a relationship
is not certain. The remains of a possible manor are recorded at TF
2483 8856. Remains of a field system surround the village to the
south and north. Nine blocks of ridge and furrow were recorded
ranging in length from 80m to 280m, located at TF 2463 8858, TF
2515 8858 and TF 2498 8899.
The northern portion of village was levelled by the late 1970s. The
cropmarks/soilmarks of the remains are poorly defined, but there is
a suggestion that the village extended W into the field adjacent
(TF 2455 8875). (Morph No. LI.304.1.1 - 1.10)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(8) |