Remains of medieval Whitehall Manor, Little Burstead (EHER 5456)

Medieval moated site, excavated between 1965-9 and again 1975-76. Foundation walls of an early 14th century house and a tile kiln were revealed.

Homestead moat. Interior platform excavated by Billericay Archaeological and Historical Society. <1> The lands of the manor were first mentioned in 1241 and it was possibly already a separate estate by then, though no house was mentioned. In 1253 the Whitehall lands were the dowry of Willelma, daughter of Gilbert Perdriz, who married William de Milers. The first Whitehall house must have been built soon after this, if it hadn't been built already. A silver halfpenny, minted c1250, has been found on the site, and the house first mentioned in 1285 as "le Whytehalle"' possibly a reference to the house being "coated with the medieval equivalent of whitewash, a fairly common practice". Pottery of this period has been found- mainly green-glazed baluster jugs and cooking pots. Nothing is known of this house as it was demolished around the end of the 13th to early 14th centuries and another house built. This later house was surrounded by a moat (it is not known if first one was). This, second house, was built on a raised triangular platform with a deep moat on the west and south sides and 3 rectangular fish ponds on the east. This house seems to have stood for nearly 200 years, being repaired and altered during this period. It may have been built by Sir Humphrey de Waldon, a notably baron, who acquired the Whitehall manor in 1306, adding other lands in 1317. The Whitehall manor may have been intended for his eldest son, another Humphrey, to whom it was left in 1331. He held it for the next 40 years. This house lay east-west across the platform, was timber-framed with wattle and daub walls and had a tiled roof. The sill beam rested on brick and tile wall plinths. The house had an open hall, with solar cross-wing to the east. The hall was entered from a courtyard to the south, through a porch and door at the western end of the hall into the screens passage. On the left of the latter were two storerooms. The hall was open to the roof, in the centre was a hearth of brick and tile. The floor had been removed when the house was demolished. At the north end of the screens passage a door opened to a covered way that led to an outside kitchen. The solar was probably 2-storied with an outside staircase and may post-date the main hall though it conforms to the normal 14th century plan. There were several outbuildings, especially to the south of the courtyard backing on the south moat. In 1372 Whitehall passed to Sir John de Waunton, then to his son-in-law John Pykenham. The latter was in debt in 1977 and an inquiry into his assets was appointed. <2> See also: <3> - <15> NRHE data transfer: 1965 to 1976. Excavations. Excavation of this site had begun in 1965 under the late K. Marshall to recover a building and pottery sequence for this moated site, and continued until 1969 under W. Darcy. Foundation walls of a large early 14th century house were recovered. The site was re-opened in 1975 and in 1976 a kiln, making nibbed roofed tiles, unknown elsewhere in Essex, was found to underlie the house. <16> See also: <17>