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27 Jul 2010 09:30:11
The name Fulk de Breauté may not mean a great deal to most citizens living in Luton today but 800 years ago he was a powerful landowner in Bedfordshire, owing his influence to his allegiance to King John. He captured Bedford castle as he sided with the king against the barons and gained control of the Isle of Wight through marriage. His links with Luton are immortalised in the family’s heraldic Griffin in the Vauxhall car badge.
A soon-to-be-published article detailing the results of archaeological excavation on the site on which the University now stands is adding to our understanding of de Breauté’s presence in Luton. Finds on the site, including medieval domestic waste such as pottery and leather shoes, and a group of 12 children’s graves dating between the 17th and early 19th century are also helping to build a picture of the town’s growth from medieval times to the present day.
Perhaps the most significant find during investigation of the new Campus Centre site last summer, which was undertaken by Albion Archaeology (part of Central Bedfordshire Council), was a stretch of the moat belonging to Fulk de Breauté’s castle built in 1221. The moat measured up to 12 metres wide and three metres deep and although the castle is thought to have only survived a few years, historical records show that parts of the moat and protective banking still existed until the early 19th century.
As well as unearthing substantial amounts of pottery and animal bone discarded during the medieval period, the dig also revealed the remains of two sides of a large medieval timber-framed building inside the moated enclosure, perhaps forming part of a meeting hall or dwelling place. There was also evidence of pits for posts to support the structure.
Project Officer Wesley Keir said “It’s exciting to finally have found physical remains associated with de Breauté’s castle, confirming the long held belief that it was located to the south side of St. Mary’s Church. The remains of the timber building may well be the oldest building remains yet discovered in Luton.” By the 13th century, he added, the castle site probably possessed a range of agricultural buildings in addition to a chamber block, hall and stables. It is likely to have served as an occasional residence for the King or great lords, as an agricultural centre, and the hall would have served as the manorial court collecting rents and fines from its tenants.
Over time the moat was filled with waste material and by the 17th century a small children’s cemetery was established outside the moated enclosure. The archaeological team found evidence of 12 graves containing the remains of eight children aged between birth and four years. A black glass bead – perhaps belonging to a rosary – and other artefacts were also found. Analysis suggests that one of the children suffered from congenital syphilis (not an uncommon illness at the time) although the location of the grave site outside the boundaries of St Mary’s church remains a mystery.
Further archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with the new campus building, due to be undertaken over the next few months, could shed more light on the nature of Fulk de Breauté’s castle.
Graham Blake Director of Facilities & Estates said: “We are delighted the University has been able to play its part in contributing to the knowledge of the history of Luton.”
He said there were plans to lay a stainless steel line along part of the floor of the new building, roughly indicating the course of a section of the castle moat.
