Fenham monastic grange (Kyloe)
(NU 08664070) Manor House (site). (1)
The monks of Holy Island had a manor house, or grange at Fenham. It was built, or at least added to, in 1339, and enclosed by a drainage ditch or moat in 1385. In 1560, it was described as a 'tower in good repair'. The greater part was still standing in 1782, but only the foundations are now (1852) visible, together with ground disturbance in the field in which it stood. (2)
Remains of the manor house consist of an irregular-shaped mound 1m high, surrounded by the foundations of a probable precinct wall, and traces of a ditch. The steading of a dovecote, and other minor crofts and enclosures can be identified to the north and west. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (3)
Condition unchanged. (4)
Fenham was a member of the Bishop of Durham's estate of Islandshire, granted to the monks of the Durham cell of Holy Island in 1082. The Account Rolls of Holy Island Priory records building activities, crops, animals and equipment of the manor house and grange and mill. Ditch dug around manor house in 1385-6. Demesnes often under lease from late 14th century.
Township granted to Sir William Reade after the Dissolution. Hearth Tax of 1666 recorded 27 householders. The manor site had been cleared by 1852. Aerial photographs show soil marks south of the earthworks indicating enclosures of the former village. (5)
Fenham Grange (NU 087408), a missing part of the grange boundary bank showed up as a soilmark on boulder clay. Photographed from the air in 1980. (6)
Scheduled. (7)
Archaeological investigation of the monastic grange for the MA in Archaeological Surveying at Durham University. Techniques involved include aerial rectification and transcription, geophysical survey and contour survey. The results show that Fenham was far removed from any simplistic ideal of a monastic farm. Rather, it consisted of a complex and integrated arrangement of spatially organised buildings and enclosures that were an essential component to the economic and religious force of the mother house. (8)
NU 086 408. Monastic grange at Fenham. Scheduled No ND/362. (9a)
A medieval Benedictine grange site is visible as earthworks on air photographs, centred at NU 0866 4070. The site is defined by a series of earthwork banks and ditches, as well as a possible dovecote, buildings, a hollow way, tofts and a mill race. The scheduling desciption (SMR number Northumberland 4100) offers a good interpretation of the site. Most of the features are still extant on the latest 1987 Ordnance Survey vertical photography. (9b)
The monks of Holy Island had a manor house, or grange at Fenham. It was built, or at least added to, in 1339, and enclosed by a drainage ditch or moat in 1385. In 1560, it was described as a 'tower in good repair'. The greater part was still standing in 1782, but only the foundations are now (1852) visible, together with ground disturbance in the field in which it stood. (2)
Remains of the manor house consist of an irregular-shaped mound 1m high, surrounded by the foundations of a probable precinct wall, and traces of a ditch. The steading of a dovecote, and other minor crofts and enclosures can be identified to the north and west. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (3)
Condition unchanged. (4)
Fenham was a member of the Bishop of Durham's estate of Islandshire, granted to the monks of the Durham cell of Holy Island in 1082. The Account Rolls of Holy Island Priory records building activities, crops, animals and equipment of the manor house and grange and mill. Ditch dug around manor house in 1385-6. Demesnes often under lease from late 14th century.
Township granted to Sir William Reade after the Dissolution. Hearth Tax of 1666 recorded 27 householders. The manor site had been cleared by 1852. Aerial photographs show soil marks south of the earthworks indicating enclosures of the former village. (5)
Fenham Grange (NU 087408), a missing part of the grange boundary bank showed up as a soilmark on boulder clay. Photographed from the air in 1980. (6)
Scheduled. (7)
Archaeological investigation of the monastic grange for the MA in Archaeological Surveying at Durham University. Techniques involved include aerial rectification and transcription, geophysical survey and contour survey. The results show that Fenham was far removed from any simplistic ideal of a monastic farm. Rather, it consisted of a complex and integrated arrangement of spatially organised buildings and enclosures that were an essential component to the economic and religious force of the mother house. (8)
NU 086 408. Monastic grange at Fenham. Scheduled No ND/362. (9a)
A medieval Benedictine grange site is visible as earthworks on air photographs, centred at NU 0866 4070. The site is defined by a series of earthwork banks and ditches, as well as a possible dovecote, buildings, a hollow way, tofts and a mill race. The scheduling desciption (SMR number Northumberland 4100) offers a good interpretation of the site. Most of the features are still extant on the latest 1987 Ordnance Survey vertical photography. (9b)
N4100
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; B H Pritchard
FIELD SURVEY, Deserted Medieval Villages of North Northumberland 1978; P J Dixon
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, Monastic grange at Fenham Farm 2004; Richard Sims, Durham University MA
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Monastic grange at Fenham Farm 2004; Richard Sims, Durham University MA
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; B H Pritchard
FIELD SURVEY, Deserted Medieval Villages of North Northumberland 1978; P J Dixon
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, Monastic grange at Fenham Farm 2004; Richard Sims, Durham University MA
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Monastic grange at Fenham Farm 2004; Richard Sims, Durham University MA
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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.