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Record Details

NHER Number:10197
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of Free Chapel of St Giles or St Ethelbert, post-medieval crucifix pendant and multi-period finds

Summary

This is the site of a chapel dedicated to St Giles or St Ethelbert. It was founded before 1280 and belonged to the lord of Topcroft Hall. It was listed in the Valor Ecclesiasticus and was dissolved in 1548. Two post-medieval crucifix pendants were also recovered from this site, thought to be identical to the one recovered at NHER 32882 and two other sites in the parish. Metal-detecting between 1984 and 2013 recovered medieval pottery sherds, brick fragments and roof tile fragments; post-medieval clay tobacco pipe; medieval and post-medieval coins; post-medieval tokens and jettons and Roman, Middle Saxon, medieval and post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include a Roman bracelet fragment; a Middle Saxon pin; a Middle Saxon/medieval hooked tag; medieval dress accessories, a book fitting, fragment of cauldron, pot mends and harness and strap fittings; medieval/post-medieval thimbles, part of a scabbard, a hinge plate and copper alloy vessel fragments; post-medieval dress accessories, a crotal bell and a furniture fitting and an undatable ring.

Images

  • A post medieval knife handle from Topcroft. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • Medieval hinge from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council
  • Middle/Late Saxon hooked tag from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval buckle from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval buckle from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval dress fastener from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval book fitting from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval furniture fitting from NHER 10197 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:TM 26 91
Map Sheet:TM29SE
Parish:TOPCROFT, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Site of free chapel of St. Giles that stood 'for some time after the Dissolution' ((S1) who gives the location as '- mile distant from Topcroft Hall') (sic).
A cutting in NCM Bolingbroke Collection supplies distance as 1 1/2 furlongs. Another cutting calls it St Ethelbert's chapel, but this is obviously a confusion with St Ethelburg's chapel at the hall.
Field located from tithe map by E. Rose (NAU). The distance is more like three furlongs from the hall.

1984.
Earthworks, in field, site of two buildings, bulldozed.
Bungalow previously built against road.
See hanging plan of survey, and list in file of medieval/post-medieval pottery, metalwork (S5) and coins.
Finds NCM and PP.
E. Rose (NAU), 25 July 1984.

March 1997. Metal-detecting.
Small ?cast copper alloy crucifix pendant, with the crucified Christ on one side and ?Mary on the reverse. Post-medieval.
See photocopy in file.
Finder reports that five others have been found in the locality.
D. Gurney (NLA), 4 April 1997.

This is important given the statement that the chapel survived the Dissolution for some years.
E. Rose (NAU), 25 April 1997.

September 1986.
Report on metal-detecting in The Searcher.
See photocopy in file.
D. Gurney (NLA), 20 May 1997.

Pre 1997.
One of the five other post-medieval crucifix pendants mentioned above is from this site. The locations of the other four have now (July 1997) been provided. See cross references.
D. Gurney (NLA), 22 July 1997.

1998. Metal-detecting.
Medieval/post-medieval metalwork.
Identified H. Geake (NCM), see list in file.
One medieval coin.
Identified J. Davies (NCM), see coin list in file.
See published description of seal matrix (S6).
K. Sussams (NCM), 23 October 1998. Amended by E. McDonald (HES), 26 November 2020.

Appropriate section from (S2) in file.

See documents in file for NHER 10212 which at the end of a summary of Bedingham churches mention this chapel as dissolved 1548.
E. Rose (NLA), 06 September 1999.

June 2000. Visit.
Site of eastern buildings in a field of cereal crop, no difference in crop height to indicate any changes in ground level.
H. Paterson (A&E), 3 July 2000.

'Is distant from the parish church of Topcroft half a mile'.
Founded before 1280 and dedicated to St Giles or St Ethelbert. Belonged to the lords of Topcroft Hall (S3).
Listed in Valor Ecclesiasticus (1535).
Information from (S4).
J. Allen (NLA), 2 July 2003.

September-October 2004. [1]
Two medieval coins.
Post-medieval token or weight.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 18 November 2004.

August-September 2009. Metal-detecting.
Middle Saxon pin fragment; one medieval coin; medieval, medieval/post-medieval metal objects; two post-medieval jettons and coin weight.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 20 October 2009.

July-August 2010.
Post-medieval token, buckle and dress fastener, and undatable ring.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 September 2010.

August-September 2012. Metal-detecting. [3].
Roman three-strand cable bracelet.
Middle/Late Saxon hooked tag.
1 medieval coin, buckles, a coin weight, hinge plate and trapezoidal strap loop.
Medieval/post-medieval ring.
1 post-medieval coin, 3 jettons, buckles, hooked tags, shoe buckle frames, a book fitting, furniture fitting, crotal bell and lead cloth seal.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 2 November 2012.

September-October 2012. Metal-detecting. [4].
Three medieval coins, buckles, a strap-end and two lead pot mends.
Medieval/post-medieval thimble, a tailor's thimble or sewing ring, a copper alloy vessel leg fragment and a hinge plate.
One post-medieval token, shoe buckle frames, a double-looped buckle frame, buttons, a hooked tag from dress and a knife end-stop.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 4 December 2012.

March 2013. Metal-detecting. [5].
2 medieval coins, buckles and lead pot mend.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 May 2013.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon to Medieval - 651 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BANK (EARTHWORK) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHAPEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ROAD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • FURNITURE FITTING (Unknown date)
  • RING (Unknown date)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
  • WHETSTONE (Unknown date)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 200 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • HOOKED TAG (Middle Saxon to Medieval - 700 AD to 1100 AD)
  • BELL (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BOX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COMB (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PURSE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1400 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1450 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1150 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1204 AD)
  • HINGE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • HINGE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1200 AD to 1600 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1280 AD to 1281 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1450 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1500 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 17th Century - 1300 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1350 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1350 AD to 1600 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1361 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1399 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1375 AD to 1450 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1377 AD to 1399 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1500 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1600 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1600 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1461 AD to 1483 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (Medieval to 17th Century - 1500 AD to 1700 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1526 AD to 1532 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CRUCIFIX (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • KNIFE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PADLOCK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PENDANT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SHOE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1650 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1584 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1586 AD to 1635 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1586 AD to 1635 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1720 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1720 AD)
  • BUTTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • CROTAL (16th Century to 19th Century - 1600 AD to 1850 AD)
  • BUCKLE (17th Century - 1620 AD to 1680 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (17th Century to 18th Century - 1650 AD to 1750 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1664 AD to 1664 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1667 AD to 1667 AD)
  • BUCKLE (17th Century to 18th Century - 1680 AD to 1720 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Aerial Photograph: TM 2691C-E.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Topcroft.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Photograph: CNQ 17-37.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
<S1>Article in Serial: Sears, C.. 1986. The Mystery of Chapel Meadow.. The Searcher. September Issue, pp 24-25. pp 24-25.
<S2>Monograph: Batcock, N. 1991. The Ruined and Disused Churches of Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 51. Microfiche 5:G12. No 244; p 55.
<S3>Article in Serial: Wood, R. 1999. The Chantry Certificates of Norfolk: Towards a Partial Reconstruction. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt II pp 287-306.
<S4>Publication: Taylor, R. C. 1821. Index Monasticus.
<S5>Illustration: Unknown. 1984. Drawing of a medieval iron knife tang with copper alloy sheet handle.. Film. 2:1.
<S6>Article in Serial: Geake, H., Rogerson, A. and Ashley, S. 1999. Medieval Seal Matrices from Norfolk, 1996-1998. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt II pp 353-358. no 12, p 354.

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