Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Rochford Tower
Hob Uid: 353869
Location : Lincolnshire Boston Fishtoft
Grid Ref : TF3507044510
Summary : The standing and buried remains of a medieval brick fortified house. The house is believed to have been built in the late 15th to early 16th century. The building formerly included a two storey range adjoining the north side of the tower. This range was dismantled in 1807. The monument includes the standing tower and the buried remains of the former range. The tower is rectangular in plan, measuring 9 metres by 8 metres, and stands four storeys high, with a crenellated parapet and turrets at the angles of the tower. The structure is mainly of red brick with stone window dressings. At ground floor level there is a brick vaulted chamber, or undercroft. The tower was formerly part of a larger building, shown by the bonding scars of a two storey range on the exterior of the northern wall of the tower. The range, forming part of the domestic accommodation, was provided with a communicating doorway to the tower at second storey level. The former range, running north from the tower, will survive as buried foundation remains. The present house was built circa 1807 and was altered and extended in 1860.
More information : [35084448] Rochford Tower [O.E.]. (1) Rochford Tower is a late 15th or early 16th century brick structure, with stone windows, embattled parapet and corner stairway, now derelict. There are considerable foundations in the enclosures adjacent to the tower. The tower takes its name from the Rochford family, mentioned as early as 1274. Sir Ralph Rochford was living here in 1390. The present tower was probably built about 1504 when the property was granted to the abbot of Westminster. An adjoining house of that period was taken down in 1807. From c.1600 till 1816 the property was owned by the Kyme family and became known as Kyme Tower. It is published as such on OS 1" of 1824. Scheduled as Rochford Tower. Crop marks, both rectangular and circular, visible on air photographs (6) and centred at TF 350446, are possibly associated. (2-6) See GPs of tower, AO/65/38/1 and 2. It is surrounded by ploughland, no evidence of building sites was seen. (7) Moat mentioned, possibly very dubious. (8-9) Listed as a reject by Cathcart King. (12)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 25" 1905
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Thompson P. 1856. History of Boston, 318-22
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : Boston, 26-AUG-1987
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Source Number : 12
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Page(s) : 265
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : E Trollope
Page(s) : 207
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Vol(s) : 10, 1869-70

Source Number : 4
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Source details : 1940/11/A, MAY-1960
Page(s) : 4
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Ministry of Works. 1961. Ancient Monuments of England and Wales, 62
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : APs (RAF/541/568 7.6.50 3166-7)
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : F1 FRH 14-APR-65
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Source Number : 8
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Source details :
Page(s) : 54
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Vol(s) : 7, 1980

Source Number : 9
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Source details : SMR Files, Lincoln CCM
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : 16-Apr-99
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Built late C15 to early C16
Monument End Date : 1632
Monument Start Date : 1467
Monument Type : Fortified House
Evidence : Ruined Building, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered in C17
Monument End Date : 1699
Monument Start Date : 1600
Monument Type : Fortified House
Evidence : Ruined Building, Demolished Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Built c1807
Monument End Date : 1817
Monument Start Date : 1797
Monument Type : House
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Restored in C19
Monument End Date : 1900
Monument Start Date : 1801
Monument Type : Tower
Evidence : Ruined Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Dismantled in 1807
Monument End Date : 1807
Monument Start Date : 1807
Monument Type : Fortified House, Hall House
Evidence : Demolished Building, Ruined Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered/extended 1860
Monument End Date : 1860
Monument Start Date : 1860
Monument Type : House
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Lincolnshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 47
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : LI 47
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 31626
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 87308
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 191948
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 191949
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TF 34 SE 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1965-04-14
End Date : 1965-04-14

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1967-01-01
End Date : 1967-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Rochford Tower