Bockenfield (Thirston)
Bockenfield, once a place of considerable size. The foundations of many ancient buildings may still be traced. The village formerly possessed a market. (1)
The surface of the land adjoining the 17th century manor house of Bockenfield (NZ 19 NE 3) is very uneven and indicates buried foundations of considerable buildings. (2)
[Centred NZ 18029787] The field to the east of the manor house has surface disturbances typical of deserted medieval villages in Northumberland. These traces include one rectangular steading and other vaguer mounds and platforms which probably represent the buried foundations of buildings.
These traces may have once been more extensive, but the adjoining fields are occupied by the buildings of a derelict RAF airfield.
The reason for depopulation was not ascertained. Enquiries revealed no significant field names.
There is a local tradition that Bockenfield preceded Morpeth as a market town but there does not appear to be any documentary evidence to confirm this. Authority (1), not always reliable, repeats this tradition but does not give any supporting evidence. (3)
The remains as noted by F1 do not form any coherent pattern. (4)
Deserted medieval village of Buckenfield. (5)
The surface of the land adjoining the 17th century manor house of Bockenfield (NZ 19 NE 3) is very uneven and indicates buried foundations of considerable buildings. (2)
[Centred NZ 18029787] The field to the east of the manor house has surface disturbances typical of deserted medieval villages in Northumberland. These traces include one rectangular steading and other vaguer mounds and platforms which probably represent the buried foundations of buildings.
These traces may have once been more extensive, but the adjoining fields are occupied by the buildings of a derelict RAF airfield.
The reason for depopulation was not ascertained. Enquiries revealed no significant field names.
There is a local tradition that Bockenfield preceded Morpeth as a market town but there does not appear to be any documentary evidence to confirm this. Authority (1), not always reliable, repeats this tradition but does not give any supporting evidence. (3)
The remains as noted by F1 do not form any coherent pattern. (4)
Deserted medieval village of Buckenfield. (5)
N11348
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
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