3 minute read
The search for Sir John’s “mighty howse”
The precise location of the “mighty large howse” built at Radbourne, near Derby, by Sir John Chandos (c.13201370), architect of many significant English victories over the French during the early phase of the Hundred Year War, had never been found. The hall had allegedly been of considerable size, able to accommodate 100 people, with stabling for 200 horses and substantial cellars. The Radbourne History and Archaeology Group (RHAG) resolved to go in search of Sir John Chandos’ lost hall. To do so it secured:- (i) permission for an excavation from the landowner, the Chandos-Pole family (ii) funding from the National Lottery, Heritage Lottery
Fund, Mick Aston Archaeology Fund and the Royal
Archaeological Institute (iii) help from a group of professional archaeologists and relevant experts, led by project manager Dr Ian
Parker Heath of Enrichment Through Archaeology Following analysis of primary and secondary documents, and various surveys (including tape and off-set, resistivity, drone and LiDAR), a target site for Sir John’s Hall was identified in the parkland of the current Radbourne Hall, south of St Andrew’s Church, in a landscape that the surveys revealed to be rich in medieval archaeology. The most significant find of the excavation was that there had been a building at the location, but no physical walls were left. The excavations revealed evidence of carefully robbed-out walls with a uniform infill, suggesting that care had been taken to dismantle the building and relocate some of the parts, possibly to the new hall – the current Radbourne Hall. There was also clear evidence of fire. A pistol ball was excavated that appears to have been fired into masonry, probably between the 17th and early 19th centuries. A silver sixpence dated 1743 was also recovered, clearly showing the head of George II on one side and the coats of arms of the home nations on the other. It was clearly apparent that the site had eventually been subject to demolition and a significant amount of debris was found immediately below the subsoil. The bricks unearthed – some complete, some in parts – were found to be from at least two different sources: bricks made on the estate itself, and reused bricks from other buildings. The bones that were excavated were all from animals and fish. The bones were table waste, and some of the animal bones had been gnawed. Fish scales and oyster shells were also found. The excavations also yielded charred cereal grain and found that mature oak trunk wood had been burnt, and that mature oak and ash had been used for fixtures and fittings. Most of the medieval pottery that was excavated came from the 13th and/or 14th centuries. The post-medieval pottery came from between the late 15th and mid18th centuries. Notable were sherds of Cistercian and Midland Purple wares. Analysis of the pottery suggests that some was made at Burley Hill near Duffield and some at Brackenfield near Crich. Part of a Baluster style jug, a small ointment jar, a spittoon and Oriental Batavian ware were also discovered. The excavations yielded significant fragments of clay smoking pipes. Half of these were dated from 1760 to 1800, probably indicating that workers were smoking during the final dismantling and demolition of the building. Very few finds from the 19th century onwards were found, suggesting that the site was effectively sealed with the final demolition of the building. For further information please visit : www. radbournehistory.org
Smiling RHAG Committee member Ursula Hersey (right) and RHAG chair Dianne Prescott (left) at work on the site
-Maxwell Skipp
The pandemic has been a quiet time for the Bakewell Historical Society and the Old House Museum, in common with many other voluntary organisations. However, things were starting to get back to normal as restrictions eased. The society and the museum have recently gained six new trustees and been successful in its application to become an incorporated charity. It is now preparing for reaccreditation as well as developing new ways of engagement. There are plans to better integrate the society with the museum, so that they can be more cohesive and complement each other. The diversity of the current team of trustees will be incredibly beneficial in implementing the changes that will inevitably take place in a manner that is in accordance with the society’s new incorporated status. This is an exciting new start for both the society and the museum and there will be many interesting opportunities and indeed challenges ahead.
