Halsham Manor

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameHalsham Manor
Alternative NamesMass Garth
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityEast Riding of Yorkshire
1974 AuthorityHumberside
Civil ParishHalsham

The multi-period earthworks at Halsham were visited in 1997 when the site was assessed for scheduling. The house platforms were identified as being those of Halsham manor recorded in 1294 and 1349, which is suspected as forming the core of an Anglian settlement. In 1995 the core of this area survived under pasture, unfortunately after the survey the surviving earthworks were levelled by machine and the pasture field ploughed. This is thought to have destroyed the manor house building platforms as well as the remains of any Anglian settlement. The site was therefore considered to be below the threshold for national importance and no further scheduling action was taken (English Heritage Alternative Action Report – Eric Branse-Instone, 24-JUL-1997). The location of the "Old Hall (site of)" marked on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Map of 1855 (Yorkshire Sheet 242) is enclosed on two sides by a broad ditched boundary or enclosure. This ditch is up to 12m wide and is visible over a distance of 390m. There are possible sub-divisions at TA2675 2779 and TA2678 2784 a hollow at TA26712783 and a platform at TA2677 2782. This platform may be the site of the manor house identified by Branse-Instone. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

In Ingham's list of fortified houses although no other author seems to suggest fortification. A manor of the Constables in the C12 and close to coast so possibility of fortification on both social status and defence grounds. The air photo shows how utterly the remains, still marked on the OS map, have been destroyed. How a monument of such significance it was been considered for scheduling came to be so destroyed seems to suggest a serious weakness in the legislation designed to protect heritage. Was the land owner aware that scheduling was being considered? Was the decision to level the site a deliberate one designed to frustrate that scheduling?

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTA267278
Latitude53.731201171875
Longitude-0.0801199972629547
Eastings526750
Northings427800
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Ingham, Bernard, 2001, Bernard Ingham's Yorkshire Castles (Dalesman) p. 25
  • Allison, K.J. (ed), 1984, VCH Yorkshire: East Riding Vol. 5 p. 33
  • Loughlin, Neil and Miller, Keith, 1979, A survey of archaeological sites in Humberside carried out for the Humberside Joint Archaeological Committee
  • Le Patourel, H.E. Jean, 1973, The Moated Sites of Yorkshire (The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series 5) p. 112-3
  • Poulson, G., 1841, The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness Vol. 2 p. 387 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1916, Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward III Vol. 9 p. 220 online copy