Information for record number MWA5140:
Site of Sudeley Castle Manor House

Summary The site of Sudeley Castle Manor House which dated to the Medieval period. The site was located 300m north east of Griff Lane.
What Is It?  
Type: Manor House, House
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Nuneaton and Bedworth
District: Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 35 89
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 There are no visible remains of the Manor House to be seen within the enclosed area of the moat.
2 Historical evidence exists for the Sudeleys who had a Manor House at Griff. This was in existence by 1231-1242 when a chapel is recorded (PRN 6253), but the house could have come into existence earlier. A heavy concentration of building debris was noted at the E end of the moat and the foundations of a substantial building uncovered. Extensive trenching was conducted on the rest of the area. The buildings were badly disturbed by ploughing and included a hall 11.6m long and 6.1m wide with three bays. A long narrow room ran S from this. In phase two a large chamber was added to the N. The roof was of diamond-shaped split slate tiles and the ridges capped with green or brown glazed ridge tiles. Occasional architectural fragments included a piece of window tracery and sections of octagonal chimneys. To the NW of this main building was a secondary building, which appeared to consist of a room 7.6m E-W and 6.7m N-S. A further range of outbuildings was recorded at the NW corner of the moat. Finds included bronze objects, roof tiles, pottery of late 13th century and 14th century date and animal bones.
3 The plan of the buildings is not indicative of a Manor House. The site may represent a specialised type of house not commensurate with the residing of a lordly household, but suitable for short visits (including hunting?) or for specialised functionaries. The small room A attached to the hall in phase one could be the Oratory (PRN 6253). If so the building is dated to c1231-42.
6 The site has now been descheduled.
7 The site has now been largely destroyed. A watching brief in 1986 produced no new evidence for the date of the moat, or for internal features. Only a thin strip of the centre of the site now survives.
8 A fragment of an unusual impressed floor tile depicting the head of a stag was donated by amateur archaeologist Mr. Ron Waite of Nuneaton, found at this site. Only four other decorated floor tile fragments have been recorded from the site, some of which are illustrated. It is possible that the tiles were bespoke items representing a hunting theme. Another suggestion (pers. Comm. Soden, I.) is that the stag design denotes the white hart and allegiance to Richard II. No author given.
 
Sources
Source No: 7
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Moated Sites Research Group
Author/originator: IRM, JEC, RCH
Date: 1986
Page Number: 14
Volume/Sheet: 13
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Sudeley Castle Manor House
Author/originator: Webb H
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Griff Manor House (Sudeley Castle)
Author/originator: West S, Journal of the British Archaeological Association
Date: 1968
Page Number: 76-101
Volume/Sheet: 31
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Plan
Title: Journal of the British Archaeological Association
Author/originator: West S
Date: 1968
Page Number: Fig 2, 3
Volume/Sheet: 31
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: Journal of the British Archaeological Association
Author/originator: Rigold S
Date: 1968
Page Number: 87
Volume/Sheet: 31
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology vol 48
Author/originator: S Watt (ed.)
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Site of Sudeley Castle, Griff
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
more -> 		back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument MANOR HOUSE * The principal house of a manor or village. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument MOAT * A wide ditch surrounding a building, usually filled with water. Use for moated sites, not defensive moats. Use with relevant site type where known, eg. MANOR HOUSE, GARDEN, etc. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument OUTBUILDING * A detached subordinate building. Use specific type where known, eg. DAIRY. back
monument ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT * Use more specific term where known. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CHIMNEY * Chimney used on an industrial or commercial site. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record