House ‘Lost’ Since the Civil War

In this case there were no specific known sites on the pipeline route but because Kelham has a long and interesting history – and the Trent Valley is known to be very rich in archaeological remains dating back to prehistory – we advised that an archaeologist should be on site during the soil stripping.

 

Along the route our team have found fragments of pottery, tile and clay tobacco pipe – probably all dating to around the 17th or 18th centuries, and they also found some pieces of flint, including a Neolithic arrowhead (4000–2400 BC).

 

The most surprising discovery though was two stone walls adjacent to the Kelham Road. Angled to lead away from the main road, they seem to be the base of a gateway. Once the walls were found we were given plenty of time to investigate and record the walls properly and Laing O’Rourke’s engineers modified the pipeline route to avoid the walls, so that they can be reburied and preserved.

 

We think this was a gateway leading into the grounds of a large house. We don’t know when the house was built but it is possible that it was demolished in the 17th century. The theory is that the house was demolished by Royalists during the Civil War (1644–46) to remove any cover for attacking forces. This was an important area because Newark was a Royalist stronghold and the besieging Parliamentarians had encampments in and around Kelham. 

 

This would explain why there is no sign of the gateway or house on 18th century maps.

 

When fieldwork is finished the records will be checked and the finds analysed before a report on the discovery is prepared and sent to the Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record.

 

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