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Fulbourn Village Research Project
Location: Cambridgeshire
Fulbourn Village Research Project Background had as its original remit the aim to determine medieval settlement patterns within the parish of Fulbourn, Cambs. The plan was to commission a report, with many aspects done by volunteers, that would be accessible to the local community and also academically acceptable.
EARTHWORK SURVEY
1. Zouches Field (or Close) contained earthworks which volunteers from the Parish, with English Heritage support and training, have now been surveyed and plotted.
2. The subsequent report from English Heritage suggests the humps and bumps are associated with house platforms relating to a now vanished settlement. A map of the area surveyed, based on plots taken by volunteers, was produced by English Heritage and shows the extent and position of the earthworks. Now also on computer it is available to the local community etc for research purposes.
ARCHAEOLOGY
1. Aerial photographs of the area exist which indicate the location of two moated sites within the neighbouring fields. Cambs County Council Archaeological Field Unit have carried out a series of Training Digs in the area. In 2003 an archaeological excavation was undertaken in Park Field, adjacent to Zouches Close, revealing a probable chapel which documentary evidence suggests was part of the medieval Colville manor. Metal detecting finds from Roman to early post medieval period have been discovered at Shardelowes moated site in Flack Field. Another excavation (in 2001 and 2002) carried out at Hall Orchard moated site, showed occupation from the early 13th century until late 17th century and is likely to be that of Dunmowes Manor.
2.Fulbourn Village Research Project commissioned a specialist report from Cambs Archaeological Training Unit entitled 'Investigations on a Medieval Moated Site at Hall Orchards, Fulbourn: An Archaeological Training Dig' (Connor, Aileen 2006). We also paid to have the most significant finds conserved,in particular rare (for a manor house) painted decorated window glass dating from the fourteenth century.
FIELD WALKING
1. Volunteers received training from the Cambridge Archaeology Field Group and proceeded to field - walk Croft Field which was not too distant from Hall Orchard.
2.Finds recovered and subsequently plotted, suggest the area did not have human occupation in the past. However, this result is useful in helping to define the extent of likely medieval settlement patterns within the parish.
SPECULATIONS
1. The close proximity of three medieval manors to the earthworks at Zouches Close (which continue into Ansetts Wood) gives considerable support to the idea that a settlement existed at this site.
2.Rather than being deserted, it might well have been shifted during the early post medieval period, to perhaps a more suitable area possibly free from flooding.
3.The names of Fulbourn Parva and Fulbourn Magna appear on early maps of Cambs dating from 1576 to 1821, and there were two churches (St Vigor and All Saints - the latter demolished in the 18th century) sited alongside each other.
4. Documentary research from various sources, carried out by volunteers however, suggests the two parishes did not have fixed boundaries, there were no separately named villages of Fulbourn Magna or Fulbourn Parva, and that map makers appear to have wanted to show each church as a village centre, but became confused with Fulbourn as the churches were only seven feet apart!
HISTORIC HOUSE SURVEY
1. The Project aimed to survey some of the older surviving buildings in the village which may have dated from the medieval period.
2. Training of volunteers was given by Adam Menuge, an English Heritage historic buildings specialist, who was also a local resident.
3. Our first survey proved most rewarding, for although an inscription of 1698 was visible, and there were later additions, the building was identified as originally being a medieval hall house dating from around 1450.
4. Our objective was to identfy all the buildings with some medieval origins in the parish. However, other than St Vigors church, we have only been able to determine eight or possibly nine, that are still standing.
THE INCLOSURE MAPS
1. Fulbourn Village Research Project paid for the 1806 draft inclosure map and 1814 inclosure award map of Fulbourn parish, to be partially cleaned and restored by the CRO.
2. Both maps were then digitally photographed at the FenPast Scanning Bureau.
3. The maps can now be studied on computer and as a copy, by all interested parties. This is particularly helpful for the 1806 draft map, the original of which was damaged and measured a very inconvenient 110" by 74".
THE FINAL REPORT
The results our research have been published (May 2006) in an illustrated booklet entitled 'In Search of Fulbourn'.
ENGAGING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
1. The Project commissioned a storyteller who at Fulbourn Feast 2005, engaged with young people and entertained (and educated) an audience of all ages with a recreation of the medieval oral tradition. He returned in the Autumn to enthrall pupils at Fulbourn Primary School.
2. A Medieval Handling Pack (target age Key Stage 1) of replica medieval artefacts was assembled by volunteers. After consulting a costume historian, clothes suitable for poor and well-to-do medieval children were made by a creative member of the project. Other objects, sourced by internet search and re-enacting fairs include replica medieval pottery,and writing implements. The pack, administered by the Education Officer of Cambs CC Archaeological Field Unit, will be on loan to schools and interested groups within Cambridgeshire.
EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAY
The Fulbourn Village Research Project has funded the purchase of exhibition panels, a 'tent' and technical equipment to allow us to present (indoors and outside) our findings - and the results of future research - to local community groups etc.
| Local Community Involvement / Partnerships: |
| Local History Society, school, etc. |
| Grants: |
Heritage Lottery Fund: £25,000
Nationwide Building Society: £2,031
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