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Beeleigh Abbey Excavation
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Beeleigh Abbey Excavation
Location: Essex
When, in the Autumn of 2001, Mr. Christopher Foyle, the owner of Beeleigh Abbey, invited the Maldon Archaeological & Historical Group under the direction of the late Bill ‘Nobby’ Clark to investigate a linear feature identified by the Essex Field Archaeology Unit’s geophysical department which ran east /west on the Abbey’s east lawn, there was little apprehension that this would lead to the uncovering of one of the most impressive current medieval sites in Essex.
Having identified the linear feature as a robbed out Tudor brick wall, the group was asked to excavate three trial trenches in an area of activity identified by the FAU in a paddock to the west of the Abbey. One proved to be a medieval midden with the expected mix of pottery, chicken and fish bones and oyster shell. The other two, however, produced something more exciting. The most southerly revealed two tile built foundation. The northernmost trench uncovered more foundations, in this case made of an unusual lapped tile construction.
At meeting of interested parties, it was agreed that the area around the two trial trenches should be stripped and excavated in 2003 by MAHG (Maldon Archaeological & Historical Group) members, again under the direction of Bill Clark. Throughout the year, invaluable help and advice was given by MAHG’s President, Dr. David Andrews and Trevor Ennis of the FAU. Nothing more could have been done, however, without the enthusiastic support of Christopher Foyle.
It was soon apparent that the Group was dealing with an extensive archaeological site. The well preserved foundations of a traditional medieval hall gradually emerged - parlour, central hall, and, beyond the cross passage, the service rooms. Furthermore, the central hearth in the hall, constructed of tiles laid on edge, had survived. This was later replaced by a brick chimney constructed against the cross passage. A hearth with a timber-framed chimney was also inserted into the flank wall of the parlour. This sequence of hearths, representing a series of late medieval home improvements, enhanced the importance and interest of the site.
By the end of the 2002 excavation, there was evidence of further rooms which had been added to the rear of the house. To the north of the house there was a complex series of buildings which were only partially excavated. Three further hearths were uncovered in this area, two of them possibly related to a kitchen serving, but separated from, the excavated house.
To find so many hearths is unusual, and, fortunately, Paul Linford of English Heritage’s Centre for Archaeology kindly agreed to carry out archaeomagnetic dating of them. This provided a date of last use between 1485-1495 for the central hearth of the hall and a similar date for one of the possible kitchen hearths.
Most interestingly, a central hearth in the eastern section of the site yielded a date of 1240-1260. This hearth is clearly related to an earlier hall whose foundation walls have, it seems, disappeared.
The continued excavation of the site in 2003 was made possible by a generous Local Heritage Initiative Grant from the Countryside Agency and the Heritage Lottery which enabled the Group to obtain the services of Howard Brooks of the Colchester Archaeological Trust with the assistance of Trevor Ennis from the FAU. The site was enlarged so that the excavation of the hall and its rooms at the rear could be completed. Excavation of the interior of the hall revealed no evidence of floors which suggested that they had been tiled and then removed at its abandonment at the time of the dissolution of the Abbey (1536). A large hole found on the south side was a cess pit for a garderobe.
Many experienced archaeologists and building experts have tramped over the site and given their views on it. The consensus of opinion on the hall is that it was aisled, an opinion based on the existence of foundations for posts within the central hall.
There is general agreement that the extension to the rear of the parlour was a stair tower. There has been less agreement as to the function of the house. That it went out of use at the same time as the Abbey makes it almost certain that it was associated with it. A guest house has been suggested although important guests would have expected to have been accommodated within the Abbey. It may have been attached to the home farm or grange. Another suggestion is that it was the house of the almoner (who distributed alms and charity). The finds, including fragments of window glass louvers, indicate that it was comfortably appointed.
Two ditches, on the northern edge and another on the eastern edge, have been partially excavated. They do not appear to be either drainage ditches or water courses so they possibly served as boundaries. They did, however, yield some significant finds. The northern ditch threw up a vast amount of tile but also part of an effigy showing a pair of hands cradling what appears to be a casket. Stephen Nunn in his book St Roger of Beeleigh chronicles the life of a powerful medieval churchman whose heart was returned to Beeleigh Abbey. He argues that this effigy could represent the hands holding a casket containing the heart of St Roger.
The eastern ditch produced a large number of finds including an almost complete small bunghole pitcher and a jug’ The latter in sandy orange ware datable to the late 15th century, is remarkable for having a witch mark to ward off evil scratched on it.
Elsewhere large quantities of pot were excavated which were overwhelmingly late 15th/early 16th century in date. Small finds were also numerous and include a copper alloy purse frame with silver or niello inlay, tokens, arrow heads, glass, knives, and a thimble and a needle case.
Much more is still to be discovered. The northern section was barely touched in 2003 and there is evidence of further features outside the excavated area. Several debates remain to be resolved and, no doubt, further questions will be posed. The Group intends, therefore to seek further funding so that it can continue to excavate this remarkable and important site.
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