Monument record BRD 093 - Warrener's Lodge, Brandon Warren

Brandon Rabbit Warrener's Lodge. Mapped and named as Brandon Lodge in 1783 (S1) and as Three Chimney Lodge on OS 1st edition map and named Two Chimney Lodge on 1928 OS 1:2500 & 1959 OS 1:10560 map, which shows a small open rectangle (roofless building?) at TL 7978 8377. Not shown on 1980 1:10,000 OS map, where shown as part of, or totally, within forest ride/roadway. Possibly same location as medieval lodge
Note large area of heathland to N named `Stone Lodge Heath' in 1838 tithe (plot 888).

Probably same approximate location as medieval warrener's lodge which, according to `The Brandon Compotus Rolls' show that a New Lodge, 14ft long x 12ft wide, walls 20ft high, consisting of two chambers, (1) 12ft high on ground floor and (2) 8ft high on first floor; constructed of stone, chalk and flint, was being built on the Bishop of Ely's warren, (and that the Old Lodge [unlocated] was sold) in the 1380s (S2). The original lodge was of wooden contruction, 'built in 1368' (S6). For detailed specification details of the 1380s work see Mundy's translation in parish file (S5).
The rabbit warren was one of a series in the Suffolk & Norfolk brecklands `established in the second half of the C13', which presumably dates the `Old Lodge'.

Brandon's manorial account rolls give a detailed description of the construction of the lodge in 1382-3: 160 cartloads of stone, 1 man hired for 8 days digging chalk for ramming in the said lodge, digging sand for the same lodge, 5 poplar boards for making the sinkette, 1 baltic board for making one bar for closing the door, and finally present given to the stone masons as well as the senior carpenter, by order of the chief steward (S12).

1998: Rapid survey in location of former Three Chimney Lodge located thin scatter of brick and tile, C13-C15 date, plus further C17-C20 tile (S4).

March 2001: further Rapid Identification Survey (CP) identified bases of walls and domolished/collapsed rubble in situ. This included 14th/15th century brick, flint and chalk (and some concrete) at TL79778376. Scrub to east may mask further building remains. A well is marked in 1884 and later maps, possibly much earlier in origin (S9).(Nothing identified in scrub to east).

2010 Breckland Society survey of the Warrens of Breckland identified that the lodge was built in 1368 and rebuilt in 1386 with an enclosure around it using stone from Northampton and timber from Norfolk. The site is marked on the 1791 Cadogan Estate Map and Hodskinson's 1783 Map of Suffolk (S10)(S11).

See also BRD 184 earthwork bank to North (BRD 184).

For other elements of the rabbit warren see BRD 082, 111 & 312.