Mediaeval Grovehill

Grovehill might seem an insignificant backwater today but its present day appearance belies its past significance to the development of Beverley. In Mediaeval times Grovehill was the wealthy wool town's link to the world beyond via the watery motorway that was the River Hull. The name of the hamlet was apparently first mentioned in 1156 as Gruvale, a name which possibly meant a settlement in a nook in a stream. This stream was the Groval Dyke or Aldbeck. As well as being the location of the main staithe on the River Hull for loading and unloading wares from vessels, Grovehill’s main industry in mediaeval times was pottery and tile/brick-making.  The banks of the Groval beck were rich in clay deposits and in the 14th century it is recorded that the Guild of St John held rights to extract clay from the banks of the Groval Dyke for this purpose. The potteries were well located as production generated offensive fumes and the hamlet was well away from the main town.  What is now Grovehill Road is of very ancient origins and in mediaeval times included what is now Trinity Lane, continuing as the Groval lane from the Fishmarket (Wednesday Market) right down to the staithe on the River Hull. The alternative name for the road was Pottergate or Potterlane in reference to the potteries found there. Presumably fish was landed at the staith and transported into the town for sale in the fishmarket, and wool and other goods where loaded onto barges for export elsewhere in Yorkshire and to the Continent.  Archaeological excavations around the southern Grovehill area (Annie Reed Road, etc) have yielded extensive evidence of pottery, tile and brick making, including remains of kilns, wooden workshops and clay pits. Misshapen and discarded brick and tile remains have been found on the surface of nearby fields and fragments of distinctive Beverley type pottery for domestic purposes has also been been discovered. In the area around the old council depot, evidence of Romano-British occupation has also been found in the form of pottery and tiles suggesting the Romans may also have known about and exploited the same clay deposits. 

Beside the river somewhere near the hamlet, the Gruval manor stood in late mediaeval times. Apparently there is still evidence of the moated manor in fields by the River Hull - looking at images on Google Earth, it seems this may be in the field just to the south of the bridge, behind Post Office depot.