THE STORY of TORPEL a Medieval Manor
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THE STORY OF TORPEL A medieval manor by Frieda Gosling Illustrations by the children at John Clare Primary School at Helpston and Barnack CE Primary School IN THE BEGINNING Saxon pot Roman pot New Stone Age arrowhead Let’s find out what was happening before the arrival of the Normans Saxon Villages The Danish settlers The first settlers lived in lived mainly north of the Welland valley. They the River Welland started to grow crops River Welland and tamed cattle, sheep Roman Road and dogs. They polished Likely flint to make tools and site of weapons. Torpel Village Bainton + Ashton + + Helpston + Torpel Further south, in the Barnack Manor Nene valley - there were Field Roman villas, forts, a + Ufford town, pottery and iron King S North industries, even perhaps a governor’s palace. treet 0 1 mile South + Saxon villages Ufford = Uffewurda (Uffa’s Farm) Bainton = Badingtun (Bada’s Farm) Ashton = Aesctun (Ashtree Farm) Helpston = Hylpeston (Help’s Farm) Barnack = Beornican (Warrior’s Oak) Torpel = Thorpell (Small village) Here are some photographs of items found recently in the field next to Torpel Field. One is Saxon, one is Roman and the other was used by New Stone Age people. Which is which? These finds make us believe that Torpel village was in this field and that it existed long before the arrival of the Normans. 1 ROGER DE TORPEL Roger Infans is a Frenchman from Normandy who has come to England as part of the army led William the Conqueror. They had fought against the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Normans had won the battle but the Saxons kept on fighting. William the Conqueror says that all the land in England belongs to him. His soldiers steal the land of the Saxon lords and burn their houses. Roger is one of the Peterborough knights and he has to find 5 more knights as well as archers and foot soldiers to fight for the king when he needs them. A Norman soldier Both wear a hauberk which is a long jacket of chain mail and a helmet with protection for his nose. They both carry a sword and a shield and the knight has a long lance. Roger is given land in return for fighting for the king. He and his family will be lords of Torpel manor for 150 years. A manor is like a big farm. Roger’s land is scattered across 13 villages. A Norman knight 2 TORPEL MANOR FIELD Map of Torpel Field Probable site of Roger chooses this site because it is next Torpel village. Outer wall (shaded to the old Roman road. He calls himself brown) of the bailey, The bailey – the now grassed over. Roger de Torpel because this is the name level area within of the cluster of huts at the roadside. the outer wall. As you walk on to the Field, all that remains now is a few grassy banks, ditches and flat areas. We think that the first Depressions – manor house was a wooden tower on the probably the low mound surrounded by the ditches and sites of medieval and high wooden fences for extra protection. more recent buildings. Main entrance to the A man-made medieval mound on manor. which the fortified Torpel Way manor stood. footpath entrance gate. Remains of the old wall Shallow pond after Remains of wet weather. five-metre wide dry ditch. There are rooms on 3 floors Window spaces covered with shutters The lord, his family, guests and servants live in the great hall The Normans are building hundreds of castles and fortified manor houses, some of wood, some of stone, for example at Touthill next to Peterborough cathedral and at Rockingham. Wooden tower built on a low mound 3 TORPEL‘S LEPER LORD Robert de Torpel is the grandson of the first Roger de Torpel. He is lord of all the Torpel land until he begins to show the first signs of leprosy which is quite a common disease in the middle ages. At that time there is no cure for it and lepers carry a bell to warn people to keep away. They wear a cloak to hide their deformed bodies. The first sign is the loss of feeling in their hands and feet. After a few years their fingers and toes drop off. Their hair and eyelashes and teeth drop out. They go blind. Robert goes to live in a leper hospital at the edge of Peterborough. He lives as a monk. He is given white or brown bread and some beer every other day. Occasionally the hospital is given diseased pork or mutton for the lepers. He hands over Torpel manor to his brother, another Roger. Lepers We now know that leprosy is caused by bacteria and can be cured by antibiotics. 4 TORPEL DEER PARK AND HUNTING Hunting deer with a cross bow Hunting is one of the favourite occupations of the lords and ladies of Torpel Manor. The deer park provides them with fresh meat and they are able to enjoy the field sports and entertain their friends. Sometimes they hunt foxes, hares, rabbits, pheasants and partridges. Roger de Torpel has to pay the king 100 shillings to put a fence or wall round some of his own woods to start his deer park. Usually a deer park includes some woods and some open grazing areas called "lawns". They are surrounded by a "pale", a six foot high wooden fence on a bank and sometimes there is a ditch as well. There are also "deerleaps" where wild deer can jump in but find it difficult to escape. Only the lords and ladies can hunt. If they are caught, poachers pay a fine or their hands are cut off. Hunting deer on horseback with dogs Artwork by Ivan Cumberpatch 5 THE NEW TORPEL MANOR HOUSE William, the last of the de Torpel family, dies in 1242 without a son to inherit the manor so it passes to his sister whose name is Asceline. She is married to Ralph de Camoys and they want to live in a house which is more comfortable than the old tower on the mound. The new house is built of stone and has a local slate roof. There is even glass in the windows so it is warmer and lighter than the old house. Inside there are wooden floors and plastered walls. The great hall downstairs has a hearth near one end and stairs up to the solar or family sitting room and bedrooms. Artist’s impression of the new house by Ivan Cumberpatch The great hall Outside there is a lean-to kitchen with a bread oven. Surrounding the house there are two gardens, one is used for growing vegetables and the other is an apple orchard. There is also a pen for sheep. 6 YOU ARE INVITED TO DINNER AT TORPEL MANOR HOUSE Cooking meat on a spit Before dinner is served in the hall, servants put up the trestle tables with the high table at one end. Cloths and knives are put out but no forks as food is eaten with the fingers. Spoons are used to eat soup. The lord, his family and guests sit on chairs at the top table, above a bowl of salt. Everyone else sits on benches on either side of the tables down the hall. Reminders Use your knife to cut your meat Do not dip your meat in the salt bowl Do not put your elbows on the table Do not belch Do not take over-large helpings Wipe your mouth after drinking Wipe your knife and spoon after use 7 A horn is blown to announce that the servants are bringing round jugs and bowls of water and towels for hand washing. Grace is said and the servants bring round trenchers, which are thick slices of bread which are used instead of plates. Only the lord’s bread is made from white flour and baked every day. Food is served in small dishes which are shared between neighbours. The lord and his guests drink wine. The servants drink home- brewed ale. The high table MENU 1st course River Welland eel pie Meat balls in jelly Meat pottage with mutton, herbs and spices 2nd course Roast heron, partridge, baby rabbit Torpel venison roasted on a spit All served with spicy wine sauce with herbs, beans, leeks and onions 3rd course Spiced baked apples and pears Cheese 8 TORPEL MARKET Market stalls The year is 1264 and Ralph de Camoys is lord of the People from nearby villages all bring their produce manor. Torpel now has the right to hold a market to sell at Torpel. This is the only time in the week to every Thursday and an annual fair. buy essentials like candles, nails and sewing needles. It is a chance to catch up with local news and a welcome break from the normal routine. The stocks are punishment for selling a mouldy or underweight loaf 9 TORPEL FAIR Stalls at Torpel Fair The fair is held on the feast day of St Giles, September 1st, as well as the day before and the day after. It is the highlight of the year for most people, the only time when they leave their villages. A procession of horse-drawn carts heads along the old Roman road to Torpel, piled up with cloth, furs, leather and leather goods, spices, wine, salt and pepper, dyes. There are horses and sheep, hens and eggs. The traders set up their stalls, a bell is rung to open the fair and customers pour in from far and wide.