Mablethorpe

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameMablethorpe
Alternative NamesMalberthorpe
Historic CountryLincolnshire
Modern AuthorityLincolnshire
1974 AuthorityLincolnshire
Civil ParishMablethorpe And Sutton

An ancient farm House, sometimes called the Old Hall, was a seat of the Fitzwilliam family in the 15th and 16th centuries; and tradition says a French ship landed a body of armed men, who carried off the heir of this family, and exacted such a large ransom that they were obliged to sell their estates in this neighbourhood. At a short distance from this house are traces of a moated area, on which the mansion of some other wealthy family is supposed to have stood. (White 1872)

During trial trenching at Mablethorpe Hall Care Home in July 2012, Trench 1 revealed a dumped layer which was probably deposited in the medieval period. It may have been dumped during the excavation of the moat to create an island for the high status buildings. 15th century pottery and animal bone was also recorded. (Lincolnshire HER ref. Allen Archaeological Associates 2012)

Gatehouse Comments

Thomas Fitzwilliam obtained a licence to crenellate in 1459. Despite White's statement Gatehouse considers it unlikely that two separate wealthy families would have houses so close together in the C15 in this rural area and it seems more likely his 'Old Hall' and the moated area represent different phases of FitzWilliam occupation with the moated site probably being the site of the C15 licensed house. If White's story of pirate abduction is correct, and it could well be so, it should be noted that there were genuine threats to personal security in this area but neither a licence to crenellate nor a moat offered any absolute protection.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTF491846
Latitude53.3376197814941
Longitude0.23853999376297
Eastings549140
Northings384630
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Osborne, Mike, 2010, Defending Lincolnshire: A Military History from Conquest to Cold War (The History Press) p. 62
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 171, 327
  • White, W., 1872, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire p. 264 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1927, Calendar of Charter Rolls 5 Henry VI - 8 Henry VIII, AD 1427-1516, with an appendix, 1215-1288 Vol. 6. (HMSO) p. 131-2 online copy

Other

  • Allen Archaeological Associates, 2012, Archaeological Scheme of Works at Mablethorpe Care Home, Alford Road, Mablethorpe. MAHA12.
  • Allen Archaeological Associates, 2012, Archaeological Scheme of Works at Mablethorpe Care Home, Alford Road, Mablethorpe. LCNCC 2012.106.