The Effects of Anglo-Norman Lordship upon the Landscape of Post-Conquest Monmouthshire

471 Pages·2014·31.2 MB·English

by  Owain Connors

The Effects of Anglo-Norman
Lordship upon the Landscape of
Post-Conquest Monmouthshire

(A view of Monmouth. photograph courtesy of Haberdasher’s Schools Monmouth).

Submitted by Owain James Connors to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology, November 2013.

This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright
material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper
acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work
has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and
approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University.

.......................................................................................................................................

i
Abstract
This thesis examines the effects the imposition of Anglo-Norman lordship, following
the Anglo-Norman expansion into Wales in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, had
upon the landscape of the Welsh border region. In order to achieve this aim this
project makes extensive use of digital Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in
order to produce a detailed county-wide study of the landscape of post-Conquest
Monmouthshire as well as comprehensive case studies of individual Anglo-Norman
lordships contained within the boundaries of the county.
This thesis also aims to locate its findings within important current debates in historic
archaeology about the effects of medieval lordship upon the landscape, on the roles
of the physical environment and human agency in the forming of the historic
landscape, on the wider role of castles as lordship centres, beyond simple military
functionality.

ii
Contents
List of Figures vii
List of Tables xvii
Acknowledgements xviii
1 – Introduction 1
1.1. Introduction 1
1.2. Academic Background to the Study 3
1.2.1. Landscape Studies, Landscape Variation and the Landscape of Wales 3
2.4.2. Urbanism and Settlement Pattern in post-Conquest Wales 10
2.4.3 Anglo-Norman Castles, Lordly Sites and the Seigneurial Landscape 11
1.3. Summary 16
2 – Background to Monmouthshire 17
2.1. Introduction 17
2.2. Geographic Background 20
2.3. Historic Background 23
2.4. Summary 34
3 – County-Wide Study 35
3.1. Introduction 35
3.2. Methodology 35
3.2.1. Physical Geography of Monmouthshire 42
3.2.2. Castles and Lordship Sites 43
3.2.3. Seigneurial Landscape 44
3.2.4. Boroughs, Markets and Urbanism 44
3.2.5. Post-Conquest Monastic Landscape 46
3.2.6. Ecclesiastical Landscape 46
3.2.7. Rural Settlement Pattern 47
3.2.8. Evidence for Former Open Field Systems 50
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3.2.9. Place-names 54
3.3. Analysis of the Historic Landscape 55
3.3.1. The Physical Geography of Monmouthshire 55
3.3.2. Castles 56
3.3.3. The Seigneurial Landscape 59
3.3.4. Boroughs & Markets 64
3.3.5. Post-Conquest Monastic Landscape 68
3.3.6. Ecclesiastical Landscape 69
3.3.7. Rural Settlement Pattern 74
3.3.8. Evidence for Former Open Field Systems 75
3.3.9. Place-names 77
3.4. Discussion 79
3.5. Summary 82
4 - Case Study Methodology 83
4.1. Introduction 83
4.2. Data Set Selection 85
4.3. Data Set Collection Methodology 92
4.4. Data Set Presentation 95
4.5. Summary 98
5 - Case Study – The Lordship of Caldicot 99
5.1. Introduction 99
5.2. Background 100
5.3. Analysis of the Historic Landscape 109
5.3.1. Caldicot 109
5.3.2. Shirenewton 116
5.4. Discussion 123
5.5. Summary 132
iv
6 – Case Study – The Lordship of Chepstow 134
6.1. Introduction 134
6.2. Background 135
6.3. Analysis of the Historic Landscape 152
6.3.1. Chepstow 152
6.3.2. Caerwent 163
6.3.3. Magor 173
6.3.4. Portskewett and Sudbrook 183
6.3.5. Itton, Howick & Mounton 192
6.4. Discussion & Summary 200
7 – Case Study – The Lordship of Monmouth 203
7.1. Introduction 203
7.2. Background 204
7.3. Analysis of the Historic Landscape 221
7.3.1. Monmouth 221
7.3.2. Rockfield 232
7.3.3. Dingestow 241
7.3.4. St Maughans 251
7.3.5. Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern 259
7.4. Discussion & Summary 266
8 - Case Study – The Lordship of Usk 269
8.1. Introduction 269
8.2. Background 270
8.3. Analysis of the Historic Landscape 289
8.3.1. Usk 289
8.3.2. Raglan 300
8.3.3. Trellech 310
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8.3.4. Llandenny 318
8.3.5. Glascoed 327
8.4. Discussion & Summary 335
9 – Case Study – The Lordship of Abergavenny 339
9.1. Introduction 339
9.2. Background 340
9.3. Analysis of the Historic Landscape 335
9.3.1. Abergavenny 355
9.3.2. Llanfair Kilgeddin 366
9.3.3. Llangattock Nigh Usk 376
9.3.4. Llanellen 385
9.3.5. Llanddewi Rhydderch 393
9.4. Discussion & Summary 401
10 – Discussion 405
10.1 Introduction 405
10.2. The Effects of Anglo-Norman Lordship Upon the Landscape 414
10.2.1. The Influence of the Natural Environment 415
10.2.2. Historical Influences and the Location of Anglo-Norman Capita 418
10.2.3. Who Was Responsible for Driving Landscape Change? 422
10.2.4. Agency of Rivers, Estuaries & the Coast on Anglo-Norman Lordship 423
10.3. Summary 425
11 – Conclusion 429
Bibliography 431

vi
List of Figures
Fig.1.1. Rackham’s basic subdivisions of the historic landscape. 5
Fig.1.2. Roberts and Wrathmell’s ‘provinces’. 6
Fig.2.1. The thirteen historic counties of Wales. 18
Fig.2.2. The boundaries of the historic county of Monmouthshire. 19
Fig.2.3. The topography and geographic features of Monmouthshire. 20
Fig.2.4. The subterranean geology of Monmouthshire. 22
Fig.2.5. The patchwork of small kingdoms and lordships of pre-Conquest Wales. 23
Fig.2.6. Pre-Conquest Gwent. 25
Fig.2.7. Sites mentioned in Domesday or associated with fitz Osbern. 30
Fig.2.8. The Anglo-Norman lordship divisions of Monmouthshire (c.1170). 31
Fig.2.9. An example of a stereotypical Anglo-Norman medieval parish. 32
Fig.3.1. Rippon’s study of church architecture in Pembrokeshire. 39
Fig.3.2. Rippon’s study of Pembrokeshire place-names of Welsh origin. 42
Fig.3.3. Spreadsheet used to record the settlement patterns and open fields. 50
Fig.3.4. A landscape showing no evidence for former open field. 52
Fig.3.5. A landscape showing possible evidence for former open field. 53
Fig.3.6. A landscape showing probable evidence former open field. 53
Fig.3.7. A landscape showing definite evidence for former open field. 54
Fig.3.8. The topography of the historic county of Monmouthshire. 55
Fig.3.9. Masonry castle sites in Monmouthshire. 57
Fig.3.10. Timber castle sites and Welsh Llys sites within Monmouthshire. 58
Fig.3.11. The locations of medieval deer parks within Monmouthshire. 59
Fig.3.12. The locations of medieval dovecotes within Monmouthshire. 60
Fig.3.13. The locations of medieval fishponds within Monmouthshire. 61
Fig.3.14. The locations of medieval rabbit warrens within Monmouthshire. 62
Fig.3.15. Pre-Conquest urban settlement in Monmouthshire. 65
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Fig.3.16. The medieval post-Conquest boroughs of Monmouthshire. 66
Fig.3.17. The walled medieval post-Conquest boroughs of Monmouthshire. 67
Fig.3.18. The post-Conquest monastic foundations of Monmouthshire. 68
Fig.3.19. Monmouthshire churches with masonry towers. 70
Fig.3.20. Monmouthshire churches with bellcotes, belfries and spirelets. 71
Fig.3.21. Monmouthshire churches with ‘native’ dedications. 72
Fig.3.22. Monmouthshire churches with ‘non-native’ dedications. 73
Fig.3.23. The nineteenth century rural settlement pattern of Monmouthshire. 74
Fig.3.24. Evidence for former open field systems in Monmouthshire. 76
Fig.3.25. Monmouthshire place-names of Welsh origin prior to 1300. 77
Fig.3.26. Monmouthshire place-names of non-Welsh origin prior to 1300. 78
Fig.3.27. Anglo-Norman influence upon the landscape of Monmouthshire. 80
Fig.4.1. The tithe map morphology of the parish of Chard (Somerset). 87
Fig.4.2. Patterns of occupancy and ownership showing former open field. 89
Fig.4.3. The linguistic origins of the place-names for the parish of Skenfrith. 91
Fig.4.4. An example of a photocopy of a tithe apportionment. 93
Fig.4.5. An example of a photocopy of a tithe map. 94
Fig.4.6. The creation of a GIS polygon shape file for a tithe map transcription. 95
Fig.5.1. The Lordship of Caldicot. 100
Fig.5.2. Topographic features of the parish Caldicot. 101
Fig.5.3. Topographic features of the parish of Shirenewton. 101
Fig.5.4. An aerial view of Caldicot castle. 104
Fig.5.5. An example of a page from the ‘Caldicot Map’. 107
Fig.5.6. An example of a survey map of the Duchy of Lancaster (1771). 108
Fig.5.7. The field morphology of Caldicot. 109
Fig.5.8. The settlement pattern of Caldicot. 110
Fig.5.9. The pattern of land ownership for Caldicot. 111
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Fig.5.10. The pattern of land occupancy for Caldicot. 112
Fig.5.11. The pattern of land use for Caldicot. 113
Fig.5.12. The pattern of Welsh field-names within Caldicot. 114
Fig.5.13. The pattern of Welsh and English place-names in Caldicot. 115
Fig.5.14. The field morphology of Shirenewton. 116
Fig.5.15. The settlement pattern of Shirenewton. 117
Fig.5.16. The pattern of land ownership for Shirenewton. 118
Fig.5.17. The pattern of land occupancy for Shirenewton. 119
Fig.5.18. The pattern of land use for Shirenewton. 120
Fig.5.19. The pattern of Welsh field-names within Shirenewton. 121
Fig.5.20. The pattern of Welsh and English place-names in Shirenewton. 122
Fig.5.21: Evidence for open fields present in the tithe survey for Caldicot. 127
Fig.5.22. The medieval landscape of the parish of Caldicot. 128
Fig.5.23. Shirenewton farms having more than three surrounding fields. 129
Fig.5.24. The medieval landscape of the parish of Shirenewton. 130
Fig.6.1. The Lordship of Chepstow. 135
Fig.6.2. Topographic features of the parish of Chepstow. 136
Fig.6.3. Topographic features of the parish of Caerwent. 137
Fig.6.4. Topographic features of the parish of Magor. 138
Fig.6.5. Topographic features of the parish of Portskewett and Sudbrook. 139
Fig.6.6. Topographic features of the parishes of Itton, Howick and Mounton. 139
Fig.6.7. St Mary’s Priory, Chepstow. 141
Fig.6.8. Aerial view of Chepstow Castle. 141
Fig.6.9. Plan of medieval Chepstow. 144
Fig.6.10. Aerial view of Chepstow’s Port Wall. 145
Fig.6.11. Aerial view of the village of Caerwent. 147
Fig.6.12. Aerial view of the motte at Caerwent. 148
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Fig.6.13. Aerial view of ‘Harold’s House’ and St Mary’s, Portskewett. 150
Fig.6.14. The field morphology of Chepstow. 152
Fig.6.15. The settlement pattern of Chepstow. 153
Fig.6.16. The pattern of land ownership for Chepstow. 154
Fig.6.17. The pattern of land occupancy for Chepstow. 155
Fig.6.18. The pattern of land use for Chepstow. 156
Fig.6.19. The pattern of Welsh field-names within Chepstow. 157
Fig.6.20. The pattern of Welsh and English place-names in Chepstow. 158
Fig.6.21. Marker stones in the ‘central belt’ of Chepstow. 159
Fig.6.22. The medieval landscape of the parish of Chepstow. 161
Fig.6.23. The field morphology of Caerwent. 163
Fig.6.24. The settlement pattern of Caerwent. 164
Fig.6.25. The pattern of land ownership for Caerwent. 165
Fig.6.26. The pattern of land occupancy for Caerwent. 166
Fig.6.27. The pattern of land use for Caerwent. 167
Fig.6.28. The pattern of Welsh field-names within Caerwent. 168
Fig.6.29. The pattern of Welsh and English place-names in Caerwent. 169
Fig.6.30. Crick field morphology suggestive of possible former open field. 170
Fig.6.31. The medieval landscape of the parish of Caerwent. 172
Fig.6.32. The field morphology of Magor. 173
Fig.6.33. The settlement pattern of Magor. 174
Fig.6.34. The pattern of land ownership for Magor. 175
Fig.6.35. The pattern of land occupancy. 176
Fig.6.36. The pattern of land use. 177
Fig.6.37. Individual ‘farms’ recorded in the parish of Magor. 178
Fig.6.38. The pattern of Welsh and English place-names in Magor. 179
Fig.6.39. The medieval landscape of the parish of Magor. 181
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