Caldecote, Hertfordshire
Encyclopedia
Caldecote is one of the smallest civil parishes in Hertfordshire
, England
. It covers only 325 acres (1.3 km²).
Situated to the west of Ashwell
. Caldecote consists of a cluster of cottages around the redundant
Church of St. Mary Magdalene
. The church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and is in Perpendicular style.
The church is now in the care of the charity Friends of Friendless Churches
and there are pictures of it on their web site.
There is a Manor house
dating from the 14th century to the south of the church.
In the year 1724, several Roman urns, containing burnt bones and ashes, were discovered in this parish.
During the 1970s archaeological excavations were carried out for a number of summers under the direction of Professor Guy Beresford.
These revealed that during the 12th and 13th centuries there were approximately nine crofts lying to the north of the church and possibly three others close to the northwest boundary of the present manor garden. The population had declined by the mid 14th century (it was decimated during 1349-50 due to The Black Death
): no subsidy was paid in 1428 indicating that there were then less than ten householders. The excavations demonstrated that after the manor was granted to the Priory
the lands of the peasantry were gradually amalgamated
.
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, 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...
. It covers only 325 acres (1.3 km²).
Situated to the west of Ashwell
Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell is a village and civil parish situated about four miles north of Baldock in Hertfordshire.It has a wealth of architecture spanning several centuries. The dates almost entirely from the 14th century and is renowned for its ornate church tower which stands at , and is crowned by an...
. Caldecote consists of a cluster of cottages around the redundant
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Church of St. Mary Magdalene
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Caldecote
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Caldecote, is a redundant Anglican church standing in the deserted medieval village of Caldecote, Hertfordshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless...
. The church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and is in Perpendicular style.
The church is now in the care of the charity Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
and there are pictures of it on their web site.
There is a Manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
dating from the 14th century to the south of the church.
In the year 1724, several Roman urns, containing burnt bones and ashes, were discovered in this parish.
During the 1970s archaeological excavations were carried out for a number of summers under the direction of Professor Guy Beresford.
These revealed that during the 12th and 13th centuries there were approximately nine crofts lying to the north of the church and possibly three others close to the northwest boundary of the present manor garden. The population had declined by the mid 14th century (it was decimated during 1349-50 due to The Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
): no subsidy was paid in 1428 indicating that there were then less than ten householders. The excavations demonstrated that after the manor was granted to the Priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
the lands of the peasantry were gradually amalgamated
Amalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
.