Acton Court: The Evolution of an Early Tudor Courtier's House

480 Pages·2004·59.897 MB·English

by  Kirsty Rodwell, Robert Bell

Acton Court
The evolution of an early
Tudor courtier's house

Acton Court
The evolution of an early
Tudor courtier's house
by Kirsty Rodwell and Robert Bell
with contributions by
Jerome Bcnram, John A the non Bowen, P<1ul Counncy, Eliz~beth Crowfoot, Andrew David,
Paul Dc'Ath, Paul Drury, Suzannah England, Ian Friel, Nick Griffiths, David Haddon-Reece,
Helen Hughes, Jon Humble, Barry Knight, Bruce Levitan, Marek Lewcun, Jean Manco, Daniel
WI H Miles, Catherine Mortimer, Quita J\1\ould, Eric Robinson, Vanessa Straker, Sharon
Strong, Alan Vince, Malcolm Ward, Georg<.: \'\illite and Bruce Williams
a
E:-..:Gl.ISH HERITAGE

Contents
List of illustrations......... . .......................... viii RoomS. ................................................ 56
Lin of rabies .................•....•..... ............................... xii The curtain wall ...................................... 58
Acknowledgemems .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . ...... xiii Period 3.2 (Phase 2) ........... ............................... 58
St.u,nnary . ... . . . ... . . . .. . ...................................... xiv Room G ................................................. SS
Ritli1tli ........................................................ ........ X'V The north porch ................... 59
Zusanutletifas.sung .. ........................ ....................... X\ii Period 3.3 (Phase 3) ......................................... 60
GloSJary and AbbrttJiau(ms . ....................................... x.x Room G ................................................. 60
Prejaee . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. ..••.............................. ><xi Rooms H-K............. .. .... 60
The south range ........ .............................6 3
The curtain wall ......................................6 5
Introduction
Period 3.4 (Phase 4) ...........................................6 5
The rescue of Acton Court by Paul Drury ....... 1 Period 3.4a (Phase 4a) ...................................6 5
The inveSligations by Robers &U. ....... .................. 2 Rooms A-C ............................................ 65
Building recording by Kirsty Rodwell .................... 4 Rooms E and El .................... .. ... 67
Modern topography by Robert Bell........... . ..... .4 Room Fl ...............................................6 8
Physical geography .................................................. 5 RoomS ................................................ 68
Geology......................................... . ..... 6 Other featur~ ........... .............................6 9
Summary of phasing and dating. ................................. 9 Period 3.4b (Phase 4b) ................................7 0
Room Q ............................................... 70
Rooms Rand Rl ..................................... 71
2 The history of Acton Court by Jean Manco
The [riangular areas between the south range
Domesday ............................................................ I 3 and Room G .........................................7 1
The Actons ..................... ................................ l4 Rooms M and N ...................................... 73
Medieval Poyntzes ................................. .......... 18 Period 3.5 (Phase 5) .. ........................................7 5
The rise of the Poyntzes . . .. . . . . .. . .. .. . .. ... . .. . .. .. . .. .. ... 20 The south range ......................................7 5
n
Early Tudor courtiers.............................. . .. 22 The south and east arms of the moat ...........
Sir Nicholas Poynrz Lhe builder ..... .......... .......... 24 Room G ................................................. n
Eli?.abelhan Poynues .......................................... 28 Rooms L and Ll ...................................... 78
The decline of the Poyntzes........................... . ... 29 The area south of the house. .................. ... 78
The sale and demolition..... .......... ..... . .. 32 The area east of the moat .......................... 79
Tenant farmers ................................... , .................. 33 Earthworks and features in the environs of the
Appendix A: contemporary descriptions..... . . 35 house...... . . ., .. . . .. .. . . . .. .. . .. ... . . . .. . ........ 82
Appendix B: household contents ............................. 38 Period 3. 1-3.3 .................................................. 82
Appendix C: building accounts and he.arth tax... ..41 Period 3.4-3.5. ................................................ 84
Appendix 0: illustrative sources . .... . ... . .... . . .42 Disc;ussion .... . . .. .. . . ... . .......................... 85
Period I: Romano· British occupation .................... 85
Periods 1-2: lith to mid-13th centurie:s ................ 87
3 The medieval manor house
Tht medieval manor house. ...................................... 88
Pre-Period 3 features ... ...... .... . ....... .43 Period 3.1-3.2: mid-to late 13th cenrur}' ............... 88
Period I .............. .. ........... 43 The moat. . ......................... 88
Period 2 .. .. . .... . .. ... .. .. .. ................................... .43 The hall range .............................................. 89
Phase I ..... . ....... 44 The kitchen range ......................................... 91
Phase 2 ... ............................. ..... .. ...... 44 RoomG ...................................................... 91
Phase 3 .......... .................. .. ...... 44 The cur-tain wall ........................................... 92
Phase 4a ..... . .... . .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. ...................... .4(> Period 3.3: late 13th to mid-14th century .............. 93
Phase 4b. .................................................... <!$ The south range ...................... , .................. 93
Earthworks and features in the Rooms H-J ..................................... 93
north and west fields ......... . .<IS The Period 3.1-3.3 house: summary........ . ..... 93
Period 3: The medieval manor house .49 The 15th-century house................. . ..... 94
Period 3. I (Phase I) ....... 49 Period 3.4a.................................... .. .... 95
The inner moat ...... . ....... 49 Period 3.4b.......... .... .................... .. ... 97
The house .............. ....... 52 Date........................................ .. ... 98
Rooms A-D ....... 52 Period 3.5............ ................... .. ... 99
The entrance .. ..................... 53 The environs of the medieva1 house... . ......... 102
Room G ..... ................................... 54 The garden .. ...... ...... .... . .............. 102
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The agricultural buildings ................................. 107 Phase 6b .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..................... 154
The fishponds.............................. .. ..... 108 Phose 6e.. .... ........ .. .................... 155
The rabbit warren ................................... 108
The deer parks............ ................ .. .......... 109
5 The interior of the Tudor house
The west park .................. .. .... 109
1'he east park ........................................... 110 Doors and door frames ........................................ .. 157
\Vooden frames .............................................. 157
Stone frames ................ .................................. 157
4 The Tudor house
Doors.. .. ....................... ............... 157
Period 4.1: the construclion of the east range ..... 114 Hinges, latches and Jocks ................. ..161
Exterior.... . . .... . ..... . ..... . .... . ..... . .... . .......... 114 Panelling............... . ................................. 161
Interior..... .. ....................................... I 17 Fireplaces.. .. ........................................ .. 164
G-round noor ........................................... 118 \'\findo"•'S ....... .... ........... .............. .. ............ 164
First noor......... .. ... liS Floors.. . .... .. ............................ .................. .. 167
The roof......................... .. .. .. .. .. . .. ......... 120 Decoration ...................................................... .. 169
Period 4.2 ..... ....................... .. ... 121 Period 4.1 .. .................. .. ................ .. 169
The north range: excavated evidence .................. 121 East range: ground and first noors .............. 169
The north range: standing building ..................... 124 Room 6 ........................................... ..169
Interior.................... . ................ 125 Fric:<e... ............. .. ................ .. 170
The roof................. .. ............... 125 Ceiling .. . ........................................... 172
The '"''est range..... ...... ............ .. .. 127 Room 10.... ...... .................. ..172
The west part of the south range. .. ............... 131 Frieze ................................. 175
Room G/32 ................ 131 Room II...... .. ............................... 174
The moat... .. ......................................... 133 Period 4.2 ......... ......................................... .. 177
Period 4.3..... ...... ....................... ............ .. .. 133 Room I ............................. ............ ........ 177
Alterations to the east range . ............................ 133 Other rooms . ............................................ 178
«........ ............. .. ..
E."<terior .................. 133 Period 4.3 ....... ..... .. ......................... ........ 179
Interior........................ .. .. 135 East range: ground noor .......... ..179
The moat......... ................ .. .............. 137 First floor. ................. ................................ 180
Room 33. ......... ......................................... .... 138 Periods 4.4 and 4.5. ...................................... . lSI
Period 4.4 ..... ........................ ............ .. .. 139
Alterations to the north range..... . ..................... 139
6 The Tudor house: discussion
Exterior...... .... .................. .. ....... 139
Interior.............. .. ....... 140 Period 4.1 ... .. ....................... 18:2
The moat: Period 4.4-4.5 ................................ 140 Form a.nd function of the east range ................... 182
The south court..... ...... ................. ...141 Decoration ................................ ............ ....... 185
Period 4.1-4.3 .... ................ ..................... 141 The progress of 1535.... ... .. .................. 188
Period 4.3-4.4 .......................................... 141 Periods 4.2-4.4 ................................................... 193
Period 4.4-4.6 ..................... .................. ... 143 The mid-16th-century house .............................. 193
The buildings e.ast of the house... .. .................. 143 External elevations ...... ................................ 193
Period 4.1 ............................................ ... 144 Plan and room function.... .. ........................ 195
Period 4.2 ... .. ................... 144 Stylistic: comparisons. .............. ......................... 202
Room 34............................. ...145 Ne. .v ark Park ............................................. 203
Room 35 .................... 146 Periods 4.5-4.6......... . .................................... 207
Room 36. ........................................... ... 148 Civil \Var defences ................................. ...... 2ffJ
Room 37............ ...148
Other buildings east of the house ...................... 149
7 Period 5: The later history of the building
The outer moat ........................................... 149
Period 4.3 ............................................................ 149 Period 5.la.. .. .................................. 209
The house in the later 16th and 17th centuries .......... 149 Excavated evidence..... . ................................ , ... 209
Period 4.5 ... ............ ..................................... 149 The north range.... . .............................. 209
The stair tower.................... .... ..... , ....... 149 The \vest range. ..... ..................................... 210
Period 4.6 and uncertain .................................. 151 The south range .......................................... 210
Period 4.5-4.6: excavated evidence...... . .. 152 Room 32 ................................................... 210
Room 30........................ ...152 The farmhouse ... ... ...... .. .... .. .... .. .... .. .... 210
Room 32 ........................ ...152 Exterior ................................. .. .... 210
Period 4.6 ....................................... . ...153 Interior ................................... . .. .... 212
Phase 6a .................. . ... 153 Fixtures and fittings ........... .. .. .... 214
The cast court ... .. ... 153 Outbuildings .............. .......... .. .. .... 214
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The south court............................. . .... 215 Fireplaces. .................................................. 252
The east court ........ ........................................ 215 Screen ....................................................... 254
Period 5. l b: The west and south ranges .. ................. 215 Discussion ............................... ..................... 258
The east court ..... ., ......................................... 215 The sundial by George W1rire .................................... 261
Subsidence over the former moat ...... ................. 216 Window glass by Kirsty Radwt:/1...... ..... .. . 261
Period 5.2.................................................. . ... 216 Excavated glass ................................................ 261
The farmhouse .............................. ............ .... 217 Lead cames from excavated contexts ................... 262
E.xterior .................................................... 217 Physical and documentary evidence. .................... 262
Interior .................................................. 217 Discussion ........ ............................................. 263
The environs of the house ......... 218 Architectural woodwork fragments by Kirsty Rodwtii.. .. Zh3
The north range west of the track ................... 218 The painted texts in the long gallery
The inner courtyard ..................................... 2 I8 by Ji!-rotne &rtrant ................................................ 266
The farmyard ............................................. 218 The verses ....................................................... 266
The west range. ........................................... 2l8 The scripture texts ........................................... 270
South of the south range ............................... 219 Graffili in the east range by Kirny Rodwel/. .•............... 211
The south court ... .. .......... ... 219 Ship graffiti by Ia>~ Frr'<l ..................................... 275
The east court ............................................ 219 Decorative plasterwork from excavated contexts
North of the east court ................................. 220 by Kinry Rodtoo/1 .................................................. 278
South of the east court ............ ... 220 X~ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of plaster samples
Norlh of !he house .......................... 220 byMo/GI)/m Ward.... ........................ .. ..... 282
Period 5.3 ............................................................ 220 A shell containing pigment by Hcle, Hughes and
The farmhouse .................... ....................... .. 220 Sharo, Strotrg....... .... . . .. . ..................................... 282
Exterior......... ................ ................. ..220 The tree-ring dating by David Haddon-Race and
interior .......... ........................................... 220 Daniel W H Mile.s..... .............................. . ..... 284
Outbuildings .. . .... ...... ...... .... .. .......... .. 221 Summary ................................................. ...... 284
The north range ......................................... 221 Methods of sample collection ...................... ...... 285
The farmyard and inner courtyard ...... ............ .. 222 Timbers sampled and particular problems ............ 285
The area south ofrhe farmyard. .. .......... .. 222 Sample preparation and measurement ................. 286
The east and south couns .................................. 222 Cross-matching procedure ................................. 2iJ7
Period 5.4: Discussion Dating results and analysis ................................. 287
The form of the Period 5.1 house ..................... .. 222 Assembly and dating of site sub-masters and
master curve....... ............................. . ..... 290
Summary of results and conclusions ....................2 93
8 Building materials: finds and specialist reports
Roman tiles by Kinry Rodwell a11d Room Bell ............. 226
9 Life at Acton Court: finds and specialist reports
Medieval floor tiles by Bruce lflr1Jr'ams ........................ 226
Catalogue of designs............... . ............. 228 .'tv\edieval and later pottery by Ala11 Vince with
Date .......................................................... 231 Suza11nah England.... . ............................. 294
Tile arrangements ............................. .............. 233 Roman pottery. ................................................ 294
Triangular courtyard........... . ............. 233 Early medieval pottery: Period 2 ......................... 294
Room R/28..... .... .... .. ............. 233 Later medieval pottery: Period 3 ......................... 297
Cross~pass.age .. . . . . .. . ...... 234 Sixteenth-and seventeenth-century pottery:
Medieval and post-medieval ridge and roof tiles Period 4 ........................................................ 298
by Suzamrah England and Alan Vince........ . ...... 235 Key to codes used in pottery and roof tile tables and
Fabrics, glaze and decoration ............................ 236 catalogues.... ............................. . .... 307
Distribution on site...... .. ............ 236 Fabrics ...........................................................3 07
Discussion . .. .. . ................................... 237 Form.s ........................................... . .... 310
Fabric analysis . . . .... . .. .. . ............ 238 Ca[alogue of illustrated vessels .................................3 10
Catalogue .................................... 239 Discussion....................... .. .. 323
Atchitecrural fragments by Kino• Rodwell. .................. 242 Site formation.............. .. .. 323
Catalogue ....................................................... 242 Dating the site sequence .... 325
WindoW> .................................................... 242 Sources of pottery ... .. .... .. .. 326
Doors and arches..................... . ...... 245 Non~local and imported wares..... .. ........ 329
Roof fittings ................ . .. .... 246 Vessel glass by Paul Courmey. ................................... 33I
Mouldings ................... . .. .... 246 Introduction .................................................... 331
Finials .............. .. .... 246 Forest glass ......................................... 331
Drains ....................... .. .. .... 246 Colourless glass ........................................... 331
Paving slabs ........... . .. ... 246 The Acton Court vessel glass ......................... 332
Sculprural fragmems ...... 246 Catalogue ....................................................... 335
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