Monument record 7973 - Possible Site of Medieval Manor, Lea Farm, Aldford

<1> Professor Nick Higham, 2011, Lea Manor Farm, Aldford: Desk-Based Assessment of the Archaeological Assessment of the Implications of Proposed Re-Development (Client Report). SCH6589.

Lea Manor Farm and its surrounding buildings (MCH24329) were the subject of an archaeological desk-based study in 2011 prior to proposed re-development. The current existing farmhouse and certain of the associated barns are of early nineteenth century origin, but there is the potential that an earlier medieval manor once existed on or close to this site. Domesday mentions three manors in the period 1066-86 with the name 'Lea', one medium sized and two small. Two of these appear to have been held by the Earl in 1086 and potentially eventually formed the basis of Lea Newbold township. The third manor, however, was held by Bigot and his immediate descendants, who constructed the castle at Aldford, and comprised land between the Plowley Brook and Aldford Brook which was retained within the township of Aldford. It is possible that Lea Manor Farm may approximate to Bigot's small late-Anglo-Saxon and early Norman manor.

In support of this theory, an examination of 1940s aerial photographs shows broad ridge and furrow in several of the fields surrounding Lea Farm, although much has since been destroyed by modern ploughing. This is evidence that the area was under cultivation during the medieval period.

<2> Professor Emeritus Nick Higham, 2013, Lea Manor Farm, Aldford: Report on Archaeological Investigation associated with the Re-development of Lea Manor Farm (2013), R3796 (Client Report). SCH7869.

A programme of achaeological investigation, following production of a desk-based assessment, was undertaken by Prof. Nick Higham in 2013 in advance of re-development works at Lea Manor Farm, Aldford. The investigative work included field walking and metal detecting, monitoring of areas of topsoil stripping and excavation of test pits/trenches.

It seems likely that by the later Middle Ages the main occupation at Lea Manor Farm was already sited at or close to the early 19th century farm complex. The land investigated was farmland, in particular ridged arable, from at least the later Middle Ages, although this has has mostly been destroyed by extensive modern ploughing. Small quantities of Medieval material (13th-15th centuries) was retrieved over the area of the watching brief, this probably reflects material discarded within the settlement and then spread across the fields through manuring. A single sherd of Saintonge ware came from a test pit and the presence of this imported pottery may indicate that the site was of some status in the 13th century. There is a possibility that this was the site of a small manor named in Domesday Book.