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03/04/1946

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’A married couple wanted about the end of April, experienced as Cook and House-Parlourman, or an experienced Cook-General and House Parlourmaid; 2 in family; every convenience, very comfortable quarters including private sitting room; centre of East Midland city. apply A J Paten, Mounds, Westwood Park, Peterborough.’ (Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligence)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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Barnack Castle: Myth or Mystery?

1116-1485

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Barnack Castle was first dug when the Stamford and Essendine Railway Line was built across the far eastern end of the village in 1869. When workmen dug down to build Barnack Station they discovered ashlar stones and a mound which was presumed to be the remains of a castle.

Anecdotal evidence was recorded of the stationmaster digging up ashlar stones in his garden and earthworks including foundation walls being visible through the nineteenth century. An additional story from 1902 regaled the event of an earthenware dish being dug up from land near the station. Rather curiously, the dish was said to contain a plum pudding! The pudding was left out in the air and over the next day it diminished in size until it vanished, quite to the amusement and confusion of the locals. The earthenware dish was described as ancient, suggesting it had been in the ground for many years, and was thought to be related to the ashlar stones. A local field has the name of 'Bomb Castle Close', suggesting that the locals believed there to be a castle in the vicinity. The local Historic Environment Record appears to be based on the anecdotal evidence.

Landscape archaeology of the site does not support the idea of a castle being there either. There were several castles in the area including Stamford, Maxey, Fotheringhay and Peterborough, but all have left remains and at least some written references, even though Peterborough Castle had a very short existence. Lidar images do not suggest the presence of a significant building in the area, there being no evidence of mounds, ditches or otherwise, although ashlar stones in situ would suggest a building of some importance.

Did Barnack have a castle? The lack of landscape archaeology would suggest not. Was there a significant building on the Barnack Station site in the past? This appears likely, but the only way we will ever discover exactly what was there is if an archaeological dig takes place in the area.

References:

http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/2985.html <accessed 22/01/2020>

Image from Pixabay

Castle , Station , Barnack

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Help Wanted

03/04/1946

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Barnack Castle: Myth or Mystery?

1116-1485

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