Ovingham Vicarage And Ovingham Priory Cell (Ovingham)
[NZ 08506365] Vicarage [L.B.]. (1)
Ovingham Vicarage: the present structure probably occupies the site of the parson's house, destroyed by the Scots in 1293, 1312 and 1316. It was founded or rebuilt (to judge from the details of the east window) c.1378 as a small monastic establishment of Augustinian canons and vicarage combined, for in that year a licence was granted. The cell was abolished but the vicar could not be dispossessed of his accommodation in the building. In 1628 it was rebuilt, much in its present form, additional alterations being made in the 19th century. (2)(3)
Priory cell of Augustinian Canons at Ovingham, dependent on Hexham Priory. Founded AD 1378, dissolved 1587. (4)
An L-shaped building with date stone 1694, incorporating a two light late decorated window. (5)
No change; not outstanding. (6)
22/122 The Old Vicarage
20/10/52
GV II*
House. Front block right bay 15th century, the rest mainly various 17th century dates and early 19th century but probably with medieval core. Mainly squared stone with Welsh and stone slate roof. Two storeys. L-shaped. Front block has doorway right of centre. Four later semi-circular steps up to roundheaded door with moulded imposts and pendant keystone. Two windows left and one right, formerly four-light mullioned but now all but ground floor left are early 20th century casements in original chamfered reveals. Moulded ground floor string rising above door. Also first floor string. This facade early/mid 17th century. On right return a two-light 15th century window with cusped heads. Projecting wing to rear has date 1694 / TA for Thomas Addison over door with flattened Tudor arch in square chamfered surround. Also large projecting chimney breast, partly renewed, projecting brick bread oven, one mullioned window and various later windows. Rear of this wing has various 18th-20th century sashes under 17th century hoodmoulds. Rear of front block is early 19th century thickening with 12- and 6-pane sashes but incorporating a 17th century two-storey porch with Tudor-arched doorway. Panel above door in memory of John Bigge, killed 1919. Gabled roofs with one stone corniced end stack, one similar ridge stack and two rebuilt stacks.
Interior has blocked, possibly late medieval, doorway with broadly-chamfered surround and flat lintel with rounded shoulders. This has drawbar tunnels and was probably an outside door. It is in right ground floor room with 15th century window. Large fireplace in centre ground floor room has flattened Tudor arch and plaster reliefs of oak leaves inside fireplace. Further large segmental-headed fireplace in former kitchen with nailhead on each voussoir. Early 19th century staircase but stone newel of former stair remains. Plaster frieze in upper room with pairs of affronted dragons; and fleur de lys in corners of ceiling.
The house was a cell of Hexham Abbey. (Three Jacobean Houses by H Honeyman: Archaeologia Aeliana 4thS. XXXI 1953). (7)
An evaluation was undertaken on ground to the north east of the Vicarage in February 1998, at NZ 08506365. A trench 5.5m by 1.5m by 1.8m deep was excavated. Despite the depth achieved, archaeological deposits were not encountered; below garden soil was a layer with stone rubble and flecks of mortar and below this a deep layer of stone rubble. It was considered that the original ground surface was unlikely to survive below the rubble layer and that it represents the back-filling of a major subsoil disturbance in the 19th or early 20th century. (8)
A watching brief in 2008 during excavation of foundations for a sun-room outside the west gable end of the building revealed an east-west feature made of irregular slabs, perhaps representing the footings of a former wall or possibly a paved path. In the south-east angle of the trench was an area of consolidated stonework with a clear face standing two courses high on the west. Removal of a section of timber floor in the attic revealed the surviving floor was made of wide oak planks, perhaps of 17th century origin or earlier.
Other recording during building alterations included:
* the Dining Room East Wall has a known blocked doorway at the south end which might be an insertion in later fabric; at the north end of the same wall was what looked like the south jamb of another former doorway, which also looked to be an insertion.
* North Entrance Service Trench revealed a single worked stone north-west of the doorway and appraently in-situ; its relationship with the main building was unclear.
* in the East Bedroom a fireplace was exposed and one of the four cross beams was exposed and recorded.
* the Kitchen revealed a brick relieving arch presumably related to the bread oven visible externally, and removal of floorboards revealed the footings of a thin east-west wall between the chimney breast and the window. (9)
A watching brief in 2019 of works to the North Wing of the Old Vicarage revealed a number of historic elements of fabric. At both ground and first floor level the southern wall of the North Wing was shown to be almost completely original and constructed of wattle and daub panels in an oak frame. At ground floor level the ceiling contained much original fabric, including roughly-squared oak joists which appear to be original and contemporary with each other. One joist bears evidence of peg-holes from a former partition, and three others have evidence of historic plaster covering and have iron hooks. The ground floor was shown to have been almost entirely replaced in the 19th or early 20th century, being of softwood joists on cream brick sleeper walls and replacement softwood boards.
The first floor also revealed historic oak ceiling joists but they show evidence of reuse and alteration or addition. A wattle and daub partition was revealed toward the north end of the range with an original oak-framed doorway. A chamfered, flattened-arch fireplace was uncovered in the northern wall. In the southern part of the first floor was a section of softwood timber panelling made of beaded, reused boards thought to have been built to give the impression of a higher quality panelled partition; it probably dates to the 18th century. (10)
Radiocarbon dating of material from the wattle and daub wall suggests a construction date in the mid to later 17th century (250 ± 21BP, or cal AD 1664 (1') (SUERC-94504 (GU55644)). This lends support to the date of 1694 carved in the lintel of the external door on the west side of the North Wing. The original layout of the first floor is suggested as two rooms, entered one after the other without a separating corridor. (11)
Ovingham Vicarage: the present structure probably occupies the site of the parson's house, destroyed by the Scots in 1293, 1312 and 1316. It was founded or rebuilt (to judge from the details of the east window) c.1378 as a small monastic establishment of Augustinian canons and vicarage combined, for in that year a licence was granted. The cell was abolished but the vicar could not be dispossessed of his accommodation in the building. In 1628 it was rebuilt, much in its present form, additional alterations being made in the 19th century. (2)(3)
Priory cell of Augustinian Canons at Ovingham, dependent on Hexham Priory. Founded AD 1378, dissolved 1587. (4)
An L-shaped building with date stone 1694, incorporating a two light late decorated window. (5)
No change; not outstanding. (6)
22/122 The Old Vicarage
20/10/52
GV II*
House. Front block right bay 15th century, the rest mainly various 17th century dates and early 19th century but probably with medieval core. Mainly squared stone with Welsh and stone slate roof. Two storeys. L-shaped. Front block has doorway right of centre. Four later semi-circular steps up to roundheaded door with moulded imposts and pendant keystone. Two windows left and one right, formerly four-light mullioned but now all but ground floor left are early 20th century casements in original chamfered reveals. Moulded ground floor string rising above door. Also first floor string. This facade early/mid 17th century. On right return a two-light 15th century window with cusped heads. Projecting wing to rear has date 1694 / TA for Thomas Addison over door with flattened Tudor arch in square chamfered surround. Also large projecting chimney breast, partly renewed, projecting brick bread oven, one mullioned window and various later windows. Rear of this wing has various 18th-20th century sashes under 17th century hoodmoulds. Rear of front block is early 19th century thickening with 12- and 6-pane sashes but incorporating a 17th century two-storey porch with Tudor-arched doorway. Panel above door in memory of John Bigge, killed 1919. Gabled roofs with one stone corniced end stack, one similar ridge stack and two rebuilt stacks.
Interior has blocked, possibly late medieval, doorway with broadly-chamfered surround and flat lintel with rounded shoulders. This has drawbar tunnels and was probably an outside door. It is in right ground floor room with 15th century window. Large fireplace in centre ground floor room has flattened Tudor arch and plaster reliefs of oak leaves inside fireplace. Further large segmental-headed fireplace in former kitchen with nailhead on each voussoir. Early 19th century staircase but stone newel of former stair remains. Plaster frieze in upper room with pairs of affronted dragons; and fleur de lys in corners of ceiling.
The house was a cell of Hexham Abbey. (Three Jacobean Houses by H Honeyman: Archaeologia Aeliana 4thS. XXXI 1953). (7)
An evaluation was undertaken on ground to the north east of the Vicarage in February 1998, at NZ 08506365. A trench 5.5m by 1.5m by 1.8m deep was excavated. Despite the depth achieved, archaeological deposits were not encountered; below garden soil was a layer with stone rubble and flecks of mortar and below this a deep layer of stone rubble. It was considered that the original ground surface was unlikely to survive below the rubble layer and that it represents the back-filling of a major subsoil disturbance in the 19th or early 20th century. (8)
A watching brief in 2008 during excavation of foundations for a sun-room outside the west gable end of the building revealed an east-west feature made of irregular slabs, perhaps representing the footings of a former wall or possibly a paved path. In the south-east angle of the trench was an area of consolidated stonework with a clear face standing two courses high on the west. Removal of a section of timber floor in the attic revealed the surviving floor was made of wide oak planks, perhaps of 17th century origin or earlier.
Other recording during building alterations included:
* the Dining Room East Wall has a known blocked doorway at the south end which might be an insertion in later fabric; at the north end of the same wall was what looked like the south jamb of another former doorway, which also looked to be an insertion.
* North Entrance Service Trench revealed a single worked stone north-west of the doorway and appraently in-situ; its relationship with the main building was unclear.
* in the East Bedroom a fireplace was exposed and one of the four cross beams was exposed and recorded.
* the Kitchen revealed a brick relieving arch presumably related to the bread oven visible externally, and removal of floorboards revealed the footings of a thin east-west wall between the chimney breast and the window. (9)
A watching brief in 2019 of works to the North Wing of the Old Vicarage revealed a number of historic elements of fabric. At both ground and first floor level the southern wall of the North Wing was shown to be almost completely original and constructed of wattle and daub panels in an oak frame. At ground floor level the ceiling contained much original fabric, including roughly-squared oak joists which appear to be original and contemporary with each other. One joist bears evidence of peg-holes from a former partition, and three others have evidence of historic plaster covering and have iron hooks. The ground floor was shown to have been almost entirely replaced in the 19th or early 20th century, being of softwood joists on cream brick sleeper walls and replacement softwood boards.
The first floor also revealed historic oak ceiling joists but they show evidence of reuse and alteration or addition. A wattle and daub partition was revealed toward the north end of the range with an original oak-framed doorway. A chamfered, flattened-arch fireplace was uncovered in the northern wall. In the southern part of the first floor was a section of softwood timber panelling made of beaded, reused boards thought to have been built to give the impression of a higher quality panelled partition; it probably dates to the 18th century. (10)
Radiocarbon dating of material from the wattle and daub wall suggests a construction date in the mid to later 17th century (250 ± 21BP, or cal AD 1664 (1') (SUERC-94504 (GU55644)). This lends support to the date of 1694 carved in the lintel of the external door on the west side of the North Wing. The original layout of the first floor is suggested as two rooms, entered one after the other without a separating corridor. (11)
N10120
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R W Emsley
TRIAL TRENCH, The Old Vicarage, Ovingham 1998; The Archaeological Practice
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Ovingham to Wylam pipeline 2007; Tyne and Wear Museums
WATCHING BRIEF, The Old Vicarage, Ovingham 2008; The Archaeological Practice
HERITAGE ASSESSMENT, The Old Vicarage, Ovingham 2019; Solstice Heritage
WATCHING BRIEF, The Old Vicarage 2019; Solstice Heritage
TRIAL TRENCH, The Old Vicarage, Ovingham 1998; The Archaeological Practice
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Ovingham to Wylam pipeline 2007; Tyne and Wear Museums
WATCHING BRIEF, The Old Vicarage, Ovingham 2008; The Archaeological Practice
HERITAGE ASSESSMENT, The Old Vicarage, Ovingham 2019; Solstice Heritage
WATCHING BRIEF, The Old Vicarage 2019; Solstice Heritage
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.