[NZ 07345685] Whittonstall Hall (GT) (site of). (1)

Whittonstall Hall occupied a site on the summit of a hill, close to the Roman road Dere Street. No ruins remain, only some ridges and mounds; but there are some hedgerows which seem to mark avenues by which the house was approached. (2)

The site of Whittonstall Hall is represented by a rectangular banked enclosure measuring 32m by 8.5m, with the banks varying in height from 0.1m to 0.5m. The other earthworks in the vicinity probably represent the steadings of outbuildings, walls, trackways, etc, of a deserted medieval village. The banks and ditches vary in height from 0.2m to 1.3m, and undressed stones are visible in places. The whole area is under pasture. The 'Green Lane' to the south east of the site is apparently one of the 'avenues'. It is unmetalled and shows no trace of antiquity. Surveyed at 1/2500. (3)

Published survey (25 inch) correct. Condition unchanged. (4)

The vill of Whittonstall contained three free tenants, four farmers, seven bondage tenants and eleven cottars in 1268. Twelve taxpayers were recorded in the 1296 Lay Subsidy.
The Hearth Tax of 1666 recorded 22 houses at Whittonstall, and a large settlement seems to have survived there into the 18th century. Reorganisation of the farms was undertaken mid-18th century by the Greenwich Hospital Commissioners, which reduced the number of holdings. By 1740 only nine out of 17 farmholds remained. There were two farms and a few cottages in 1842. Whittonstall has slightly increased in size in the 20th century.
The only visible earthworks are those of the manor at the south end of the village. (5)

The final season of excavation by Mahany revealed that the manorial buildings were set in the north part of the site, enclosed by a stone boundary wall. There was an annexe to the south of the enclosed area, delimited by a bank and ditch. Within this area was an aisled barn 116ft long. In the west half of the upper terrace was a probable 13th to 15th century manor house. Much of the east half destroyed by post-medieval structures. (6)

Additional bibliography. (7)(8)

NZ 074569. Five acres of substantial but ambiguous earthworks partially excavated on the supposed manor of the Baliol and Darrayn families. Alleged 'hall' was an eleven bayed aisled barn with a porch and opposed entrances, probably demolished in 15th century. Nucleus of the site lay to the north, near the present farm on the upper terrace. Traces of substantial walls found. (9)

Summary of excavations 1970-71. (10)

Earthworks selectively investigated and two large open areas excavated 1970-1, by C M Mahany for Lincolnshire Archaeological Trust. (11)

The site was scheduled in 1968 and removed from the Schedule in 1970 for coal mining to take place. (12)

A watching brief at White Tara Cottage exposed a ditch thought to be associated with the manorial complex. (13)