Archaeology
Floor tile from Kirby Muxloe Castle found in the moat.
Archaeological findings to date:
From artefacts found in and around the village, there is evidence of early man occupying the area.
Many artefacts were recovered from the moat during restoration of the castle – pottery, a candlestick, many deer antlers and some floor tiles. These are now part of Leicestershire County Council’s Archaeological Collection.
Archaeological finds
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Flint blades found field walking in Kirby Muxloe
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Samian Ware found in Kirby Muxloe
Earliest findings
From artefacts found in and around the village there is evidence of early man occupying the area. Worked flints from the Early Neolithic period (c4000BC to 2800BC) has taken place in the Desford Lane area, at the rear of the castle and in other parts of the village. A Neolithic flint axe was found in 1891.
Pottery finds
Pottery, including Grooved Ware, has also been found, showing that early man was settling here during the Late Neolithic period (c2800BC to 1500BC). It was during this period that forests were being cleared for cultivation. Evidence in the form of enclosures, house ring and pits show settlement during the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age (1000BC to 400BC) and excavations carried out prior to the construction of the A46 revealed Iron Age houses, post holes, field systems and scatters of Roman pottery. Also in this area, kiln bars were found showing that pottery was being made locally.
Bronze Age and Roman
During trial excavations near Gullet Lane, before work began on the Barons Park estate, evidence of Bronze Age pits and Roman activity was found. More evidence of Roman activity in the area comes from aerial photographs taken in 1948, which show part of the Mancetter Roman Road from Leicester to Mancetter, near Atherstone. Crop marks indicate that the road ran through the village and across what is now Kirby Muxloe Golf Course. Near this road, there have been significant finds of Roman metalwork, coins and Roman pottery.
The Danes and Domesday
Although there is no archaeological evidence of the settlement by the Danes around the late ninth ot tenth century AD, the village is entered in the Domesday Book in 1086 as the farmstead or village of Carbi. Remains of an early manor house that was built in the early medieval period (1067to 1349) by the Pakeman family are to be found on the same site as the castle. It is possible that a sand pit shown on the O.S. map of 1886 near "Elms Farm" on Gullet Lane was the source of sand used in making the bricks for the castle. Elms Farm on Gullet Lane was previously known as "Brickman's Hill".
The building of the Parish church, which dates from the fourteenth century, of Pakeman Place and subsequently the castle in 1485, indicate that the core of the medieval village was located in this area.
Archaeological finds at Kirby Muxloe Castle
Workmen digging out the moat in 1912
Photograph The Osband collection
In 1912, the Ministry of Works took over the castle from the Winstanley family. A substantial amount of work was done to rescue the castle which was in a precarious state of disrepair.
The moat was drained with all the silt and rubbish thrown into large skip-type containers ready to be taken away. Restoration was slow but thorough. During the next 90 years, the castle was open to the public and certainly in the earlier days it was one of the chosen places to visit if living in or around Leicester. People visited and enjoyed picnics sitting on the central grassy areas or alternatively, took tea in either the gardens of the Old White House or Faith Cottage where refreshments were available.
Group of workmen at Kirby Muxloe Castle 1912 Photo Custodian of the Castle
By 2006, the very old wooden bridge had come to the end of its life. It had been repaired many times in the intervening years, but repairs would no longer suffice.
English Heritage came to the rescue and set out a comprehensive plan of restoration which cost £490,000. The moat was drained to allow scaffolding to be erected in order for the brickwork to be repaired. 15,000 bricks were needed to restore the part-built castle and a new oak bridge was constructed at the cost of £40,000.
When the moat was drained several exciting discoveries were made:
Copper Alloy candlestick found in Kirby Muxloe Castle moat in 2006
Copper Alloy candlestick
This ornate candlestick was made around the 16th century. Candlesticks were an advantage over the 'pricket' type candle holder used during the medieval period where the candle was inserted into a spike. However, rush lights would have used to light the rooms and stairways of Kirby Castle. Candles began to be made around the 1300's and were made from tallow, using fat from cows or sheep. These produced a lot of smoke and gave off an unpleasant smell and eventually beeswax began to be used to make candles. These were very expensive so only the rich could afford them.
Midland Purple Jug found in the moat at
Kirby Muxloe Castle 2006
Midland Purple Jug
This jug was wheel -thrown with rough inside and outside surfaces and a dark purple to black glaze which did not cover the whole of the pot.
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A large range of pots were made in the Midlands in this type of earthenware during the 14th and 15th century and included jars, bowls and jugs. It was probably used for wine at the table of Lord Hastings.
Iron Pincers found in the moat at Kirby Muxloe Castle 2006
Iron Pincers
These would have been used for general work done in and around the castle and were useful for holding objects firmly and bending them into shape. They would have been used for making iron pintles or door hinges and horseshoes many of which have been found in the moat.
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The design of these pincers have changed very little over the centuries and resemble modern-day pliers found in any toolbox.
Boar's Head found in the moat of Kirby Muxloe Castle
2006
Boar's Head
The medieval diet for the noblemen living in a castle included bread, meat, such as pork, mutton and beef. Wild boar would have been hunted by noblemen nearby in Lord (Baron) Hasting's park- 'Baron's or Barn Park'. The diet also included dairy products such as cheese and vegetables such as cabbage and leeks. Venison would also have been eaten as deer antlers were found in the moat from deer hunted in the park.
A peasant's diet at this time would be mainly bread, pottage - a type of porridge and stews made with meat if they could afford, it but mainly vegetables.
Cistercian Ware -found in the moat at Kirby Muxloe Castle 2006
Cistercian Ware Cup (top and bottom shown)
Cistercian ware was so-called because it was found in the ruins of many Cistercian monasteries and probably made by the monks. This cup has three handles and is made of earthenware with a glaze to which lead was added to produce the characteristic dark brown metallic-looking effect. Other broken drinking vessels of this type were found in the moat, obviously thrown in there when they became broken. This cup must have been a desirable item of medieval "fine dining" ware. It is likely that it was made at Ticknall in Derbyshire.
A 15th century brooch found behind Kirby Muxloe Castle
Brooch found in 2017 behind Kirby Muxloe Castle
In 2017, a high-status medieval brooch was discovered by a metal detectorist, operating in the farmer's field near to the moat. There was, at the time, speculation in the press that it may have belonged to Lady Hastings, or as it has been suggested, to Jane Shore, a mistress of Lord Hastings who is thought to have spent time at the castle. Jane Shore was also the mistress of Edward IV before his death in 1483.
The British Museum declared the item as treasure but declined the opportunity to purchase. The brooch was then auctioned by Hanson's Auctioneers with a guide price of £6,000-£8,000. The brooch actually sold for £20,000 to an undisclosed buyer.