Monument record FRK 117 - Red Lodge Warren

Red Lodge Rabbit Warren, associated with Red Lodge Warrener's Lodge (FRK 073).

A grant of free warren was granted to the Bishop of Rochester in 1249.
Circa 1290: Ealfred (or Galfrido?) le warrener appears as a witness on a deed relating to the transfer of lands (S1)(R1).
1295: Galfreds "le warrenner" named. By circa 1314 named as Galfred Warrener. The family name Warren/Warrener recurs frequently after this. There is however no specific evidence of a rabbit warren as no mention is made of rabbits in a list of tithes due in 1347 (S1)(R2).

The warren is recorded under tithe payments in 1627 (payment of 6 shillings, 8 pence per half year) & in 1631 and 1636 (13 shillings, 3d per year)(S2).

In 1826 Red Lodge Farm & Warren is recorded as being 579 acres in area. Limits of warren not known.

Surviving elements of the Lodge (FRK 073) are visible from outside red brick C18(?) structure. Possibly affected by turnpike road of 1768 (though probably road existed earlier) and C20 development and 1990s bypass.

2006: A desk-based assessment was undertaken on the site in advance of development. Two square enclosures are present with the study area (FRK 117 FRK 049). Historic cartographic sources date the two enclosures from at least 1824 and they are thought to represent enclosed rabbit warrens. The enclosures are thought to date from the post-medieval period but it is probable that the warrens existed on the site during the medieval period possibly from 1248 onwards. There is evidence that the interior of the enclosures was ploughed posisbly during the medieval period. The use of the site as a warren suggests that subsurace deposits are likely to have been truncated and any earlier archaeological deposits disturbed. (S4)

2010: The Breckland Society's survey of The Warrens of Breakland identified possible boundary of rabbit warren and location of Lodge (FRK 073). Most of the warren area was sold in 1926 for the building of Red Lodge village and housing in 1980/2000. Little now remains of the warren bank. The 1824 Enclosure Map shows two banked rectangular enclosures of 10 acres and 11 acres within the warren (S3).

Note: three sub-square enclosed areas (of 10.225, 11.136 & 6.8707 acres) are recorded within the warren - see FRK 036, 049 & 050, of which one, FRK 050, may have enclosed the Red Lodge (see FRK 050 and 1824 enclosure map).
Formerly part of Freckenham parish.