2017 was off to a good start when Roger Frost an eminent local historian introduced us to the existence of the Manor House at Ightenhill which was revealed through geo-physics, examination of the land and records demonstrating that the house was built around 1180. Although there is no evidence of how the Manor looked Roger showed pictures of manor houses built in the late 12th Century on which the Manor may have been modelled – Boothby Pagnell in Lincolnshire, and Millichope manor in Shropshire were two of them.
He gave an overview of the large area covered by Ighten Manor reaching as far as Cliviger and Pendle Forest. It was thought the Lord of the Manor would have rarely lived there and had a steward to manage his affairs. The baliff would have an important task in overseeing the rearing of horses, this area or equicium led to the visit of a royal prince – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster who superceded the de Lacy family who owned the Manor for over 150 years. NE Lancashire can also boast another royal connection with the visit of Edward 11 to the Manor in 1323.
Activities and occupations included archery, fishing, agriculture , pinder – who gathered in the sheep, hedgelayer, a constable – useful in dispensing the justice decided on in the court at the Manor house and last but not least and also very essential an ale taster! Some of these images were from beautiful mediaeval manuscripts.
Whilst Heritage Lottery funding enabled the development and dissemination of recently acquired knowledge there are at the moment no plans to carry out an archeological excavation. However – here’s hoping things will change.
This was an excellent talk and would warrant further reading to explore further the medieval past in our area.
Did you know? that the coif – a mediaeval headdress -was patterned on Roman headwear designed to counteract the cold in Britain– Birrus Brittanicus
Did you also know the de Lacy’s were the Earls of Lincoln and their London residence was where Lincolns Inn Fields are situated?