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'House of the White Queen' (Groby, Leicestershire) | Series 18 Episode 7 | Time Team

Time Team Classics・44 minutes read

Time Team explores Ruby Old Hall in Leicestershire, a property with a rich history encompassing different structures, including a Norman motte and bailey castle, a 15th-century manor house, and medieval masonry in the garden. The team uncovers evidence of hidden staircases, stone buildings, and medieval walls while delving into the history of the Grey family, showcasing the property's evolution from Norman origins to Tudor magnificence.

Insights

  • Time Team focuses on uncovering significant archaeological finds in homes and gardens, like medieval walls and Norman castles, with Ruby Old Hall in Leicestershire showcasing diverse historical structures from different centuries.
  • The property's rich history tied to the Grey family, starting with Norman Hugo Grominil fortifying Ruby after the Battle of Hastings, highlights the team's mission to explore the family's legacy, including Hugo's potential role in building the castle and the evolving structures over centuries, shedding light on social mobility and historical continuity within the property.

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Recent questions

  • What historical structures were discovered at Ruby Old Hall?

    Time Team uncovered a Norman motte and bailey castle, a 15th-century manor house, and medieval masonry in the garden at Ruby Old Hall in Leicestershire.

  • Who fortified Ruby after the Battle of Hastings?

    Norman Hugo Grominil fortified Ruby after the Battle of Hastings, showcasing his significant role in the property's history.

  • What evidence was found of a hidden stairway at Ruby?

    Initial excavations revealed evidence of a hidden stairway within the Norman motte at Ruby, prompting further exploration to determine its purpose.

  • What did the team discover about the construction of the castle?

    The team uncovered evidence that the castle at Ruby was confirmed as Norman, built by Hugo after the Battle of Hastings, using horizontally bedded stones, rubble infill, and leveling up courses for stability.

  • What significant building phase was revealed at Ruby?

    The excavation at Ruby revealed tracery glazed windows dating back to the early 14th century, indicating a large aristocratic manor house construction during that period.

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Summary

00:00

"Time Team Uncovers Medieval Castle Origins"

  • Time Team focuses on homes and gardens holding significant archaeology, such as a medieval wall, a 15th-century brick manor house tower, and the remains of a Norman castle on a property owned by an extraordinary family.
  • The property, Ruby Old Hall in Leicestershire, was at risk of being lost until new owners, Paul and his brother, rescued it a year ago, finding it in poor condition with stolen copper pipes and fire damage.
  • The team aims to recreate six centuries of posh residences within three days at Ruby, a site with diverse historical structures, including a Norman motte and bailey castle, a 15th-century manor house, and medieval masonry in the garden.
  • Initial excavations reveal evidence of a hidden stairway within the Norman motte, prompting further exploration to determine if a tower was built on top of the motte or if the motte was constructed around the tower.
  • The team uncovers remains of a stone building on the motte, potentially part of the original Norman castle, with a wall visible in the trench and geophysics indicating a tower and staircase buried beneath the surface.
  • Excavations in the bailey area reveal a standing wall believed to be part of a great hall, prompting geophysical surveys to locate other structures and determine if the wall is indeed from a hall.
  • The property's history is tied to the Grey family, starting with Norman Hugo Grominil, who fortified Ruby after the Battle of Hastings, and the team aims to uncover more about the family's legacy through their archaeological findings.
  • Hugo Grominil, a tall and brave figure, fortified Ruby and built up its walls, eventually dying there but being buried abroad as per his wish, showcasing his significant role in the property's history.
  • The team delves into the question of whether Hugo built Ruby from scratch or refurbished an existing structure, with ongoing excavations aiming to reveal the castle's origins and the extent of Hugo's involvement in its construction.
  • Excavations continue with multiple trenches opened to explore different areas of the property, including the motte, bailey, and potential buildings associated with the Grey family, uncovering more evidence of the site's rich history.

14:43

Medieval castle discovery at Gruby Old Hall

  • The team uncovers a medieval wall and a Norman castle at Gruby Old Hall in Leicestershire.
  • They find evidence of a projection, possibly a bay window, in the wall, indicating a high-status area.
  • Trenches are opened to uncover the great hall within the bailey, with dating evidence found.
  • Flint artifacts suggest early Neolithic presence, predating the medieval structures.
  • The team discovers substantial walls and evidence of water bonding materials.
  • Efforts to locate a staircase from the 1960s excavation are made to tie in past and present findings.
  • The team explores various buildings, including a 15th-century brick tower and a medieval wall.
  • Roof tiles and wall materials indicate high-status construction and potential earlier structures beneath.
  • The team considers the possibility of a great hall and other buildings within the complex.
  • Documents detailing room assignments and property divisions provide insight into the Grey family's history at the site.

29:03

Medieval castle excavation reveals historical secrets

  • The building complex at Grooby Hall dates back to the 15th century, possibly connected to Tracy's building.
  • The castle wall's foundation is solid bedrock, indicating skilled engineering.
  • The castle is confirmed as Norman, built by Hugo after the Battle of Hastings.
  • The construction involved horizontally bedded stones, rubble infill, and leveling up courses for stability.
  • The team uncovers a grand hall with an oriole, suggesting high status and elegance.
  • Geophysics reveals additional wings and a courtyard at the site.
  • The team searches for a chapel near the hall, using historical documents and geophysical surveys.
  • A cellar and threshold of a tower are discovered, shedding light on the castle's construction.
  • A silver coin from the 14th century and glazed pottery from the 13th century provide dating evidence for the site's development.
  • The team concludes that the castle was demolished around the same time as other buildings on the site, leading to the construction of the grand hall.

43:27

Medieval Manor House Evolution and Transformation

  • The tracery glazed windows, dating back to the early 14th century, reveal masons' marks and a significant building phase in the early 1300s, indicating a large aristocratic manor house construction.
  • The excavation uncovers a medieval bailey castle, initially built by Hugh Grommany after 1066, later upgraded by the Greys in the early 1300s, with William Ferrers summoning parliament as the Baron of Grooby around 1325.
  • Elizabeth Woodville's descendants, particularly Thomas Gray, transformed the property in the late 1400s, demolishing the earlier structures to construct a grand brick tower, reflecting the family's rise in society from Plantagenet to Tudor magnates.
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