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Pickthorn
The history and archaeology of Pickthorn
Introductory History
Eathworks recorded from aerial photographs at Pickthorn Farm, Stottesdon
Pickthorn is a very ancient site a little to the north of Stottesdon. Whilst today it is essentially just a single farm, it was once a small hamlet with a number of houses clustered around the manor house. At some period in Saxon times it became attached to Wenlock Abbey and it remained in the ownership of Wenlock until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII; Wenlock was formally surrendered to the crown in 1540. The monks it turn leased to the Baskerville family and their descendants and it was probably a member of this family who built the moated manor house known as Pickthorn Castle. It was almost certainly not a serious fortification; instead the moat was a status symbol and reflection of a style of house that was fashionable amongst the medieval gentry. The ordinary people of Pickthorn lived in much more humble houses, clustered around a road and surrounded by their land in the open fields. The hamlet probably started to decline in the early 14th Century and this process would be hastened by the Black Death in 1348/9.
Around 1600 a large new timber framed house was constructed and this may have become the principle dwelling house at Pickthorn. The “castle” was apparently destroyed in a fire about 1760. However, its earthworks, together with those of the medieval village and the ridge and furrow ploughing in the open fields, can still be made out in the landscape.
The Assize of Pickthorn
Assize of Pickthorn
(National Library of Wales, Pitchford Hall Ms 991)
Richard Lakon, gent
William Leghand of Leghand
Richard Lakon Esquire
Richard Husee of Albrighton
Richard Ger
John Lee of Coton
John Detton of Rusale
Thomas Hobald
John ap Gryffyth
Thomas Wodehous
Thomas Cleobury of Lythe
Roger Handlehand
William Ronlowe of Wotton
William Durdon of Sutton
John Foster of Madeley
William Robtes of Stanton Lacy
John Hures of Dallerton
Richard Dynethewey
John Kekenwych
John de Denthale
William Granenage of Whitemere
John Cheyne of Ashelache
William Heyn
Alan Withyford
This is a list of jurors from the 15th Century who were summonsed to try a case at Pickthorn. It was probably a civil case concerning the ownership of the manor; there were several disputes about this in the 1400’s.
The Bruyn Family rental, c1450
Follow the link below to read a mid-15th Century rental that includes families living at Pickthorn and Overton in Stottesdon