Birmingham Manor House
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham Manor House or Birmingham Moat was a moated site
that formed the seat of the Lord of the Manor
of Birmingham
, England
during the Middle Ages
, remaining the property of the de Birmingham family
until 1536. The buildings were demolished and the moat filled-in in 1815-16, but the remains of medieval stone structures excavated in 1973-75 survive intact beneath the buildings of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets
.
The date of the first settlement of the site is unknown. Although Birmingham's origins lie in the Anglo-Saxon
period and the manor of Birmingham definitely existed at the time of the Domesday Book
, no evidence from earlier then the medieval period was found during the archaeological investigations of the site in the 1970s and 2000s. The circular form of the moat suggests eleventh or twelfth century origins, and the entrance to the site pointed away from the centre of the medieval town at the site now known as the Bull Ring, suggesting that it preceded the twelfth century development of the town around the marketplace.
Excavations during the construction of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets between 1973 and 1975 revealed a sandstone wall that included a moulding similar to those found on other sites in the West Midlands such as Sandwell Priory
, probably dating it to the twelfth century. This wall had been incorporated into a later structure about 11m long and 4m wide with chamfered ashlar
stonework - possibly a tower, an oriel window, the base of a stair or the end of a building - with a buttress that indicates a likely thirteenth century date. Further excavations as part of the redevelopment of the Bull RIng in 2000 showed that the moat was 2.5m deep.
Documentary evidence of the site is slight. The moat may have been associated with the castrum mentioned in the royal charter
of 1166 that granted Peter de Birmingham the right to hold a market in Birmingham, though this isn't certain. The site was mentioned again in a survey of Birmingham of c. 1529 that describes the moat and a drawbridge
and claims that the buildings were in a ruinous condition. Another sixteenth century document describes an outer court to the south east of the site. By the time the site was first illustrated in William Westley's 1731 map of Birmingham there appear to have been no medieval buildings remaining apart from a large circular dovecote
, and later maps of 1750 and 1778 show four buildings running across the site in a north-south direction. A single illustration of the site survives from 1814, the year before its destruction.
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
that formed the seat of the Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, remaining the property of the de Birmingham family
De Birmingham family
The de Birmingham family held the lordship of Birmingham in England for four hundred years and managed its growth from a small village into a thriving market town. They also helped invade Ireland and were rewarded with the Barony of Athenry...
until 1536. The buildings were demolished and the moat filled-in in 1815-16, but the remains of medieval stone structures excavated in 1973-75 survive intact beneath the buildings of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets
Birmingham Wholesale Markets
The Birmingham Wholesale Markets are the largest combined wholesale food markets in the United Kingdom, with 235 trading units totalling . Located just south of the Bull Ring in the centre of Birmingham, they include markets selling meat, fish, poultry, fruit, vegetables and flowers and are run by...
.
The date of the first settlement of the site is unknown. Although Birmingham's origins lie in the Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
period and the manor of Birmingham definitely existed at the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, no evidence from earlier then the medieval period was found during the archaeological investigations of the site in the 1970s and 2000s. The circular form of the moat suggests eleventh or twelfth century origins, and the entrance to the site pointed away from the centre of the medieval town at the site now known as the Bull Ring, suggesting that it preceded the twelfth century development of the town around the marketplace.
Excavations during the construction of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets between 1973 and 1975 revealed a sandstone wall that included a moulding similar to those found on other sites in the West Midlands such as Sandwell Priory
Sandwell Priory
Sandwell Priory was a medieval monastic house in Staffordshire, England. Although records of the establishment of the priory are sparse it is reported that the priory was founded by William Fitz-Anculf in the 1100s...
, probably dating it to the twelfth century. This wall had been incorporated into a later structure about 11m long and 4m wide with chamfered ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
stonework - possibly a tower, an oriel window, the base of a stair or the end of a building - with a buttress that indicates a likely thirteenth century date. Further excavations as part of the redevelopment of the Bull RIng in 2000 showed that the moat was 2.5m deep.
Documentary evidence of the site is slight. The moat may have been associated with the castrum mentioned in the royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
of 1166 that granted Peter de Birmingham the right to hold a market in Birmingham, though this isn't certain. The site was mentioned again in a survey of Birmingham of c. 1529 that describes the moat and a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
and claims that the buildings were in a ruinous condition. Another sixteenth century document describes an outer court to the south east of the site. By the time the site was first illustrated in William Westley's 1731 map of Birmingham there appear to have been no medieval buildings remaining apart from a large circular dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
, and later maps of 1750 and 1778 show four buildings running across the site in a north-south direction. A single illustration of the site survives from 1814, the year before its destruction.