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Traces of Medieval Times

​There are many signs of Saltfleetby’s medieval feudal past hidden in the landscape, which are easier to see with the help of LiDAR imaging.  Surviving documents can also tell us more about the people who lived here in the middle ages when Saltfleetby was a busy agricultural village with a large population, a weekly market and an annual fair.

Slide to compare Satellite and LiDAR image of Saltergate, Saltfleetby

Satellite and LiDAR images of the same area in Saltergate, Saltfleetby St Peter, showing the recognisable patterns of medieval ridge and furrow stripes in the fields and a possible former moated settlement in field opposite Old St Peter's tower.

What is LiDAR?

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to examine the surface of the Earth. From an aerial platform, the LiDAR system beams lasers at the ground and then creates accurate three-dimensional images of archaeological sites from the contour data that is reflected back.  As laser light passes right through vegetation it allows us to see the hidden texture of the land below. Though with the pastural land of Saltfleetby, much can be spotted from satellite and aerial photos alone, using LiDAR allows us to examine the remains of ancient settlements in far more precise detail than is allowed by traditional aerial surveys.

Diagram showing the principles of LiDAR

Medieval illustration of ploughing from the The Luttrell Psalter (about 1340) commissioned by  Sir Geoffrey Luttrell, lord of the manor of Irnham in Lincolnshire

Ridge and furrow

In Medieval times the agricultural landscape was more open, before large scale enclosure occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries when most of the hedges that we see today were planted.  Known as the open field system, there wasn’t the same pressure to mark out individuals’ properties, there was a much stronger sense of community co-operation.  With a growing population, efficient use of land was important. 

Arable land was divided into strips formed by ploughs, which piled-up soil to its right side only and could not be easily turned-round.  After ploughing one of the long sides of the strip, the plough had to be removed from the ground at the end of the field, moved across the unploughed headland (the short end of the strip), then put back in the ground to work back down the other long side of the strip, piling up earth to its right again as it went. This resulted in the formation of long straight ridges and furrows used as a communal open strip field system.  Water drained from the raised ridge (where crops could be grown) into the low furrows. The old measurement of a furlong (660 feet) means “furrow length” defined as the distance a team of oxen could plough without resting, equating to the length of an acre (660ft by 66 ft).  Peasants were obliged to work for the lord of the manor, and were also allocated strips to farm for themselves which could be scattered around the village ensuring, a fair distribution of good and bad arable land. Three field crop rotation preserved the fertility of the land: the same crop was not planted two years in a row in the same field, and each field was left fallow every third year.

Over the years a lot of the distinctive striped ridge and furrow pattern of the fields, dating back to maybe a thousand or more years ago, has been lost due to modern ploughing flattening it out.  In Saltfleetby a lot has been preserved as it has been left undisturbed as pasture. It can be identified on aerial and satellite photos, but stands out most clearly with the detailed Lidar images.

Aerial photos of Saltfleetby showing the ridge and furrow pattern in fields and outline of a possible moated settlement on Charlesgate/Saltergate.

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Local word of mouth has it that this was once the site of an old manor house, however this isn't confirmed. As yet we can't say for sure what is the origin of this earthwork.

Moated sites

About three hundred moated sites have been identified in Lincolnshire, mostly thought to be medieval.  Surviving sites may not indicate that it was a residence of any distinction.  It could have been a moat surrounding a homestead or a large hall. 

Slide to compare aerial and LiDAR view of Main Road, Saltfleetby St Peter

What looks like a moat around Saltfleetby House is in fact more recent connected drainage dykes, the ridge and furrow patterns in the fields  are believed to be medieval.

Slide to compare Map and Lidar of Medieval Toft site

Map showing the location of a medieval toft (shown in yellow) where the Prussian Queen pub is now.  A toft was a small settlement of closely packed farms where residents owned and farmed the surrounding land. See also a supposed moat around The Moat Hall, believed to be more recent drainage dykes, and old earthworks enclosure, believed medieval, around The Old Manor House.

Slide to compare Satellite with LiDAR view of fields near the Great Eau

Well preserved pattern of the Medieval ridge and furrow fields next to the Great Eau river, in Theddlethorpe

Slide to compare Aerial and LiDAR view of fields near Great Eau River

The area around The Great Eau River, Rimac Road (B1031) and Back Street, showing patches of ridge and furrow visible in some fields.

Saltfleetby Fair and Market

Saltfleetby was once the site of a weekly market and annual fair, held for eight days every September, for trade and entertainment after the harvest.

Illustrations from the Luttrell Psalter medieval manuscript depicting life in a Lincolnshire village.  Agricultural work: reaping and stacking. 

Medieval musician

A stilt-walker

Market Charter

Saltfleetby’s location close to centres of salt making and well developed coastal ports for water born trading, made it a large and prosperous location to hold regular markets and fairs.  These were overseen by the lord of the manor who had to acquire a charter enabling him to take tolls from the traders and supervise correct trading practices.  These charters also conferred the franchise on the grantee and his heirs, so the market or fair continued after his death.  On 12 July 1268 a charter was granted from King Henry III to John Galle, son of Odo Galle of Saltfleetby.  A weekly market was held here every Friday, the site may have been in the All Saints area. In 1281, Peter Galle was holding the market.

Saltfleetby and Skidbrooke Fairs

An annual fair ran for eight days duration from 20th to the 27th September,  consisting of a day of vigil, then a day of feast for Mathew the Apostle  (on his feast day of 21st September), then a  further six days.  The charter for this was also granted to John (son of Odo) Galle of Saltfleetby on 12 July 1268, and taken over by Peter Galle in 1281.  It appears that the fair moved to Skidbrooke in 1301 when a charter was  granted from King Edward I to John Bek for the same eight day event during the feast of St Matthew.  In 1305 another charter was granted to also to hold a two day fair during Holy Trinity (eight weeks after Easter) to Robert de Wileghby, who inherited the Skidbrooke manor.  These appear to have been particularly large and important fairs in the area.  A supply of salt from the nearby salterns meant that goods such as fish and meat could be preserved, from the coast and Lindsey marshlands. This preservation of food enabled it be bought in Saltfleetby and keep for long journeys while transported, even as far as London.  Salt was also used in other industries like the tanning of leather, so leather goods are likely to have been sold at the fair as well as other high value non-perishable goods typical at such events, such as farm tools, homewares, furniture, rugs and ceramics. 

The date of the fair in September was after harvest, when much fresh produce was available for sale and the people had finished with the hard work of harvesting the crops.  Fairs also were a time for celebration and recreation when entertainments would be put on for the enjoyment of all ages and classes, so were important centres of social life in medieval society.

All the fun of the Medieval Fair: entertainments of the day, as depicted in the Luttrell Psalter

Bear-baiting: a chained-up bear was attacked by dogs.

The Luttrell Psalter

Commissioned in about 1320–1340 by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell (1276-1345), lord of the manor of Irnham in Lincolnshire.  A book of psalms, but among pictures of the saints and Bible stories are many scenes of rural life forming a rich source of depictions of everyday English medieval life.  The original is now kept in the British Library.

Piggy back wrestling

Musicians

A drinking game

Translation: Know all present and future, that I John and I Alan sons of Arnald Galle, with the help and consent of our mother Pupelina and our sisters Alice and Genevieve, are selling and quit-claiming [giving up all claims to the land and property] for ourselves and our heirs to Odo Galle and his heirs all the lands which we hold in Saltfleetby that in that place 8 acres … with all services, mills and exactions.. for 5½d [5½ pence] at Christmas, Easter, St Botulph’s day [18 June], and Michaelmas [29 September]….

Legal Document relating to  ownership of 60 acres of meadow in Saltfleetby, agreement between William de Vescy and John Galle of Saltfleetby, dated One month from Easter, Edward I [7 May 1284].

Meaning: John has acknowledged the meadow to be the right of William, as that which William has of his gift, to hold to William and his heirs, of the chief lords for ever. And besides John granted for himself and his heirs that a third part of 1 messuage, of 7 tofts, of 4 carucates of land, of 1 water mill and of 16 acres of wood in Tawell', together with a third part of 45 acres of several pasture in Saltfleteby which are called Holmfen - which Maud, who was the wife of Peter Galle, held in dower in the vills of Tawell' and Saltfleteby on the day the agreement was made of the inheritance of John, and which after the death of Maud ought to revert to John - after the decease of Maud shall remain to William and his heirs, to hold of the chief lords for ever.

For this: William has given him 1 sore sparrowhawk. (under a year old)

Note: [Endorsed: John Beck' puts in his claim.]

The Galle Family of Saltfleetby

At the time of Saltfleetby and Skidbrooke’s heyday as market and fair locations, the local lords of the manor were the Galle family.  John Galle who chartered the fair at Saltfleetby in 1268 and his brother Sir Peter Galle (a knight) who oversaw the weekly market at Skidbrooke in 1284, were decendants of Odo (Otho) Galle of Saltfletby.  Odo was the nephew of Arnald Galle.  Arnald and Pupelina were the parents of Odo’s cousins John, Alan, Alice (Aliz) and Genevieve (Gene). This document from the late 1100s concerns the sale of some family land with a mill on it, in Saltfleetby,  It is preserved in the National Archives and originally contained five seals, of which one is now lost.

A Medieval Windmill

Population of Medieval Saltfleetby

A poll tax taken in 1377 recorded 320 tax payers in the village, 

Charter of William son of William son of Hamund de Velletona to Philip Gall of Saltfleetby, co. Lincoln, granting land in and Welton le Wold, co. Lincoln. Witnesses: Adam Fossard of Welton le Wold, Ralph de Ridal and John, reeve of the same, Henry son of Walter of the same, Philip Waassur, Philip Bonir, Walter son of Andrew, Walter Noreys, Ralph Russel, John son of Odo, Gilbert Colman, William Pormort, Walter……, Adam the weaver, William son of Vyce, Walter the Clerk.

Charter

A mid 13th Century manuscript, one of an extensive series of deeds linked to Saltfleetby and the Galle family who lived on the same parcels of land through the late medieval centuries, much of their estate was absorbed by the duchy of Lancaster, who hold many records of the family in their archives.

Other Records of Land ownership

There are also many other records regarding land ownership in Saltfleetby related to the Galle family, including in the names of Alice and Adam, children of Robert Galle, and John (son of Robert) Galle granting land to his cousin, John (son of Odo) Galle (1234-1300).  Also a grant of the manor of Saltfleetby from John Galle to Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, with the advowson of the church of St. Clement, meaning the right to appoint the parish priest, (1267-1333). 

Seals

A seal is a device for making an impression in wax. A noblemen or women would have a unique design and lettering on their metal seal, which when pressed onto molten wax would leave their identifying mark. The purpose was to authenticate a document, or to prevent interference.  Hence, to give the document your “seal of approval” or “seal the deal”.  Used for official purposes in the Middle Ages, pendent seals were attached to cords or ribbons on the bottom of a legal document written on parchment, leaving a permanent mark when pressed into the hot sealing wax.  Some seals of members of the Galle family of Saltfleetby, from the National Archives/Duchy of Lancaster collection, can be seen here.  Scroll through to have a look at a few of the designs used by the lords of the manor in Medieval Saltfleetby. 

References

Graham Platts, Land and People in Medieval Lincolnshire, History of Lincolnshire Committee, 1985

Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer

Sale of land in Lincolnshire, National Archives, https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/medieval-society/source-2a-sale-of-land-in-lincolnshire/

Dutchy of Lancasters Great Cowcher book: //blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/using-archives-in-the-past-medieval-deeds-repositories-and-the-duchy-of-lancasters-great-cowcher-book/

Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England and Wales up to 1516, https://archives.history.ac.uk/gazetteer/lincs.

Some notes on medieval English genealogy http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_133_58.shtml

A 3-Dimensional Exploration of LiDAR in Lincolnshire's Southern Coastal Grazing Marshes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhVamd4j6E

Picture Credits

Lidar images from ARCHI MAPS LIDAR: Digital Terrain Map (DTM)

Medieval manuscript illustrations from The Luttrell Psalter in the collection of the British Library

Aerial photos: Saltfleetby St. Peter, old church of St. Peter and moated site: aerial 2015 by Chris, Geograph TF4389 and TF4389

Satellite images from Google Earth

Seals and documents from the collection of the Chancellor and Council of the Duchy of Lancaster in the National Archives

Lidar Diagram from Using Airborne Lidar in Archaeological Survey, Historic England https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/using-airborne-lidar-in-archaeological-survey/heag179-using-airborne-lidar-in-archaeological-survey/

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