Monument record MLI127776 - Churchyard, Church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Church Street, Spalding
Summary
Churchyard at the Church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Spalding. Possibly dates to the 13th century, when the church it serves was built.
Type and Period (8)
- CHURCHYARD (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1284 AD to 1853 AD)
- BURIAL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1284 AD? to 1899 AD)
- INHUMATION (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1284 AD? to 1899 AD)
- GRAVE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1284 AD? to 1899 AD)
- COFFIN (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1284 AD? to 1899 AD)
- VAULT (Undated)
- WALL (Undated)
- PIT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1470 AD to 1699 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
The churchyard at the Church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Spalding. Possibly dates to the 13th century, when the church it serves was built. It is depicted on the 2nd edition 25" Ordnance Survey County Series map. {1}
A watching brief in 1998 on the building of the new vestry recorded features relating to the church and churchyard. The foundations of a Victorian buttress were revealed. A row of rough limestone blocks extended southwards from the base of this buttress; it is uncertain whether the blocks continue on the same line beyond the buttress, but if they do, this implies that they are the footings of an earlier building. Alternatively, they may be deep foundations or the foundations of an earlier buttress if they follow the line of the Victorian foundations. The foundations of the south transept were revealed to be stepped in two stages. Thirty-five burials and a quantity of disarticulated bone were recorded in four areas of the churchyard, dating from the twelfth to the nineteenth century. Grave cuts were generally hard to distinguish, although coffin remains were noted in several graves. Three alignments of graves were noted, thought to relate to different periods of use. A vault containing a lead-lined coffin was also recorded. It was observed that there were no graves by the wall of St Thomas's chapel, implying that the burials are later than the construction of the chapel. Therefore this part of the churchyard cannot have been in use before 1315. {2}{3}
A watching brief in 1998 on a sewer trench recorded thirteen burials and a large quantity of disarticulated bone dating from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century. A pit or ditch of uncertain function which dated to the late fifteenth to seventeenth century was also recorded. {4}
An archaeological scheme of works was implemented during and following groundworks associated with the construction of a new rectory on land at Halmer Gate, Spalding. The work consisted of an archaeological watching brief (ELI6458) and an examination of dressed stone fragments found scattered on the site. In total 59 fragments of medieval to post medieval date were recorded, some of which were derived from the Church of St Mary and St Nicolas. In particular, the upper section of the church spire was recorded. The remains probably originate from the 14th century, although the capping stone and finial are 17th century in date (these stones display a date of 1636 and at least eight sets of initials). It would appear from church records that the top ten feet of the spire was replaced in 1954, with the removed stone being placed in the rectory gardens. A plain 18th or 19th century grave slab was also recorded. {5}{6}
A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording conducted in January 2017 on the groundworks for new service and drainage trenches at the west end of the church revealed the graveyard soil, but no archaeologically significant features, deposits or finds were encountered. {7}{8}
Sources/Archives (8)
- <1> SLI3566 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-07. 25 Inch County Series Map - Second Edition. 1:2500. TF 22 SE.
- <2> SLI8304 Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Sept 1998. The Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Spalding. SPC98.
- <3> SLI8305 Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Sept 1998. The Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Spalding. LCNCC 201.98.
- <4> SLI8313 Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Nov 1998. The Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Spalding. SPC98.
- <5> SLI10440 Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Mar 2005. Archaeological Watching Brief at the New Rectory, Land off Halmer Gate, Spalding. HGSP03.
- <6> SLI10441 Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Mar 2005. Archaeological Watching Brief at the New Rectory, Land off Halmer Gate, Spalding. LCNCC 2004.160.
- <7> SLI19102 Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2017. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording at St Mary and St Nicholas' Church, Spalding. APS Site Code: SSMN 17.
- <8> SLI19103 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2017. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording at St Mary and St Nicholas' Church, Spalding. LCNCC: 2017.21.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 25025 22418 (124m by 126m) Surveyed |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | SPALDING, SOUTH HOLLAND, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (3)
Related Events/Activities (5)
- Event - Intervention: Church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Spalding (ELI3571)
- Event - Survey: Examination of worked stone, The New Rectory, Halmer Gate, Spalding (ELI6459)
- Event - Survey: Site Visit to Spalding Conservation Area (Including Proposed Extensions) (ELI9723)
- Event - Survey: Site visit to the church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Spalding (ELI9763)
- Event - Intervention: The Church of St Mary and St Nicolas (ELI3564)
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Aug 18 2025 9:24AM
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