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The Monk's Manor (Brimham Hall, Hartwith, Harrogate, Yorkshire) | S13E07 | Time Team

Time Team Classics・43 minutes read

Chris Bradley's farm in North Yorkshire holds a mysterious history with Saxon origins and medieval remnants, prompting a team to uncover its past through excavation. The discoveries suggest the site was once a significant building like a manor house, showcasing the farm's historical complexity over centuries and its connection to Fountains Abbey.

Insights

  • The farm in North Yorkshire, owned by Chris Bradley, has a rich history dating back to medieval times, with evidence of a significant building on the site linked to Fountains Abbey. The discovery of medieval tiles, inscriptions, and stone carvings hint at a past as a monastic grange, showcasing the farm's historical importance and cultural heritage.
  • Through meticulous excavation and analysis, the team uncovers a substantial structure on the farm, potentially a posh residence or manor house from the 1300s, surpassing initial expectations. The presence of a guard robe and original but mismatched tiles suggests high-quality accommodation, drawing parallels to the King's Manor in York, emphasizing the site's complexity and historical significance as it transitions through various uses over 400 years, reflecting the enduring farming practices from centuries past.

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Recent questions

  • What is the history of Chris Bradley's farm?

    The farm has Saxon origins with medieval remnants.

  • What significant discoveries have been made on the farm?

    Medieval inscriptions and stone carvings suggest a significant building.

  • What are the main activities of the team on the farm?

    The team is conducting surveys and excavation work.

  • What is the significance of the medieval tiles found on the farm?

    The tiles are similar to those at Fountains Abbey.

  • What transformations has the farm undergone over the years?

    The farm has transitioned from a grange to a manor house.

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Summary

00:00

Uncovering the Medieval Mystery at Bradley Farm

  • Chris Bradley has a farm in North Yorkshire that he's been farming all his life.
  • He plans to retire with Barbara to a warmer place.
  • The farm has a mysterious history with Saxon origins and remnants of an important building.
  • In the 1960s, archaeologist Colin Platt found substantial stonework on the farm.
  • The stonework includes medieval tiles similar to those at Fountains Abbey nearby.
  • Chris and the team have three days to uncover the farm's history.
  • They start by recording and lifting large stones to reveal potential walls.
  • Cows grazing on the farm have exposed a large wall, prompting further investigation.
  • Medieval inscriptions and stone carvings suggest a significant building once stood on the farm.
  • The team discovers a substantial wall, possibly part of a medieval building, leading to more excavation to uncover the site's history.

15:08

Unearthing History: Monastic Grange Excavation in Yorkshire

  • The team is focused on conducting a topographical survey, a documentary survey, a building survey, and excavation work.
  • They have discovered lead pieces, medieval window fragments, and roof materials outside the wall.
  • Tomorrow's plan involves digging in a garden area where interesting findings are expected.
  • The team is in Yorkshire searching for a monastic grange, finding walls but unsure of their significance.
  • A trench was planned but not executed, with concerns about an 11,000-volt cable in the area.
  • A fish pond is discovered on the farm, indicating industrial fish farming linked to Fountains Abbey.
  • Evidence suggests Abbott Huby built at the site, with identical tiles found at the abbey and the farm.
  • Lay brothers, laborers for monks, likely worked at the site, with a focus on farming tasks.
  • A trench reveals large stonework, possibly part of a significant structure, hinting at a mill building.
  • Lay brother Matt experiences a day of manual labor to understand the challenges faced by workers at the site.

29:20

Uncovering Medieval Building Mysteries Through Archaeology

  • Matt is exhausted from constant praying, farm work, and repairs at the grange.
  • Debate arises about the structure in Phil's trench, unsure if it's a mill, domestic building, or barn.
  • Concerns about not losing sight of the building's memorial status amidst the search for a mill.
  • Geophysics may help determine the building's function and date.
  • The plinth's profile could provide a date for the building.
  • The possibility of the building being a manor house is considered.
  • The geophys suggests a substantial structure, leading to the decision to dig further.
  • Different trenches reveal large stone buildings without clear dates or purposes.
  • The discovery of a plinth helps identify the building as an early house from the 1300s.
  • The presence of a guard robe or toilet block is suggested by the structure's design.

44:01

Historical manor house reveals complex history.

  • The site being explored reveals a massive structure, potentially a posh residence or manor house, with original but mismatched tiles indicating a high-quality accommodation. The discovery of this substantial building, larger than expected, prompts comparisons to the King's Manor in York, showcasing the complexity and historical significance of the site.
  • Over 400 years, the farm has seen various transformations, from being run by monks as a grange to becoming a manor house rented out, then possibly returning to the abbey's use. The current buildings reflect the upheaval during the dissolution of monasteries, with everyday farming practices continuing as they did centuries ago.
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