Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Bedemans Berg
Hob Uid: 375830
Location : Essex Chelmsford Highwood
Grid Ref : TL6331002050
Summary : The site of a Benedictine Priory cell which was dissolved in 1536. Finds of Roman tiles and millstones have been recovered form the area. Originally this was a hermitage of a monk in the reign of Henry I. Henry II confirmed the possession to Colchester provided that 2 monks dwelt there in perpetuity. It was under a prior in 1523. Dissolved 1536.
More information : [TL 6331 0205] Site of [TI] Bedeman's Berg [GT] Chapel [GT] (Remains of) [TI] (1) Bedeman's Berg, Essex. A Priory Cell, for Benedictine Monks, founded temp. Hen. I and dissolved c. 1536. (2) The ruin consists of an angle of the chapel wall. There are the remains of fishponds, and a well still called Holy Well. (3) Roman tiles; and millstones among these ruins are of Neider Mendig lava. (4) This site is located at an active farm called Monk's and Barrow's Farm. No ruined chapel wall could be identified (1975) and no Roman tiles or millstones could be seen. Local enquiries regarding these and the Holy Well were entirely negative. A single waterfilled fishpond still exists to the north east at TL 63350214 and a stream valley to its immediate west may be the site of another pond. (5) No trace of a chapel was found (1988). The farmer claimed a fragment of collapsed flint walling immediately NW of the present farmhouse as its site, but the use of modern bricks for the quoins makes the extant fabric at least, unlikely to be that of the medieval chapel. It is possible fishponds originally existed in the small valleys N of the farm, but nothing convincing now remains. (6) See source for details. (7) According to the Sites and Monuments Record, maintained by Essex County Council, this site was surveyed again in 1993. During the survey ruins of a wall and a pond were identified. The wall made of flint and roman tile and had collapsed and was lying on its side. Tile, brick and other building remains were scattered on the ground. Other earthwork features were also idenitified which are thought to have been the remains of other ponds. See record 751 on their website for details. (8)

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Source details : OS 6" 1923
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Source details : (Mrs A Christy)
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Source details : Rec 6" (M R Hull 1949)
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Source details : F1 BHS 11-SEP-75
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Source details : F2 HMJ 28-JUL-88
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : Essex County Council. (n.d.) Unlocking Essex's Past [accessed 06-JAN-11]
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Dissolved
Monument End Date : 1536
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Benedictine Cell, Chapel, Priory
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Founded in reign of Henry I
Monument End Date : 1133
Monument Start Date : 1100
Monument Type : Benedictine Cell, Chapel
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Conjectural Evidence

Components and Objects:

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : MILLSTONE, TILE
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Essex)
External Cross Reference Number : 751
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 60 SW 17
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1975-09-11
End Date : 1975-09-11

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1983-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1988-07-28
End Date : 1988-07-28

Historic England Research Records

Bedemans Berg