I have lived on the estate all my life (now 30) and have just bought a house on the back of st nicks overlooking the field. Went for a walk from the field towards laceby and saw two metal detectorists there just last week.

I’m actually an archaeologist by trade, so if anyone needs any help, then please ask.

I once showed an interest in the area when volunteering for the councils archaeologist. The street names bear no relevance to its history (wybers wood), but the moat next to St nicholas church always facinated me as i could see it from the school field. What evidence do we have of an old manor house there?

Kate

sorry ’bout this, have you considered that Wyleghby might be Willoughby? It might be an idea to look back further, if you can, and find out how the de Wylegbys came by the rights to Great Coates in the first place…

Medieval inheritances, gifted lands and dowries meant that land was rarely held in one contiguous block or area and thus arguments often arose to who owned or had the rights to where. Lands where the owner died with no inheritors or was declared a felon were taken (seized very rapidly is probably a better term!) by Escheators into the Crown possessions for a set period of time: rather a useful revenue stream to enforce when your predecessors had recently spent most of the country’s money on their own wars, wives and lawsuits!

The Medieval Latin text (the names are Germanic/Danish) apparently refers to a case brought at the Quarter Day assize by the representative of the Prior of Assenby against Godfrey, son of Radulf, over (the division of?) a virgate of land - abt 30 acres - and its benefits, in Wyleghby (prob. Willoughby).

Best wishes, Kate
(now scuttling off to hide before I get shouted at!)

Because of his service he was granted ‘free warren in his manors’
The manors mentioned were Eresby (Spilsby I believe) and . . . the Manor of Wyleghby !!!

Is Wyleghby a corruption of Willoughby ?

There is a definite connection between Great Coates and the family name of Wylegby / Wyleghby

There’s also a mention of a Johannes Malet de Wylegby in the medieval Parliament Rolls 1275-1504

Here’s something which looks to the uninitiated, i.e. me, like some sort of Latin / German . . .
Prior de Asseby per attornatum suum optulit se quarto die versus Godefridum filium Radulfi de placito dimidie virgate terre cum pertinenciis in Wylegby
It’s from the Curia Regis Rolls of Henry III

Wylegby

Not a name I’ve come across before, obviously not exactly Wybers but as those familiar with the etymology of place names will be aware it’s very close !
The Barnardistons were a very well known and important family in Great Coates.
The actually acquired the Great Coates estate by marriage, to a woman called . . .
Mary Wylegby

This was during the reign of Edward II (late 1200s early 1300s)
It’s a rare name !
I’ve found few mentions of the family name but those so far include:

Robert de Wylegby is mentioned as a witness in a 13th century will involving land in Somercotes Lincolnshire

A 1295 Notifcation of Surrender:
William son of William son of Hugh de Wylegby of Askeby to John Bek

1295 “Letter of attorney to deliver seizin”
William son of William son of Hugh de Wylegby appoints Simon rector of Foletby and John de Wylegby his brother

1290 “Notification of a grant in free marriage.”
John Bek of Eresby to William son of Robert de Wylegby with Alice his daughter.
Property: 1. 16½ acres of land in demesne in Ingoldemel (Ingoldmells):
10 in le saltland, the sewer called Saltlandflet on one side.

Then an obscure reference:
“Reginald de Colewic holds twenty-five bovates in Wylegby which they value at ^6 yearly”

1275 sees mention of a Philip de Wylegby described as “escheator beyond Trent” in a Calendar of Close Rolls

This feels like quite a breakthrough to me and something that needs further research
Smilingly yours,
Rod

It could also be a chicken and egg situation - everybody say that Wybers is built on an old religious building but is that vecause of the names or do the names follow an older legend ?
Tunstall and Chapel Field House are two names which really grab me

Best
Rod

http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/great-coates-church-pictures-history-of-st-nicholas-church#comment-15227