Rebekah Vardy’s plans to build luxury stables at her £3million Grade II listed home are stalled for ‘archaeological investigations’ to be carried out
- In 1086 the area belonged to baron Alfred of Lincoln and then two noble families
- The land could have trial trenches dug to check for archeological potential
Rebekah Vardy’s plans to further develop a luxury stables at her home could be thwarted – by a 13th Century baron.
The embattled WAG won approval for a horse riding area at her and husband Jamie Vardy’s £3 million home last summer.
But an application for planning permission for a new private menage – an outdoor riding enclosure – lodged just before Christmas has hit a snag as it is claimed the site is an ‘area of archaeological interest’.
The plan was conditionally approved on Wednesday (Feb 8) – but the Vardys must carry out ‘archaeological investigations…before development commences’.
Heritage Lincolnshire claims ‘the site for the proposed development lies in an area of archaeological interest,’ to the south of ‘earthworks remains’ of a Medieval and post-Medieval settlement.
Rebekah Vardy, 40, has reportedly hit another stumbling block with her plans to build luxury stables at the Grade II listed home as a potential outdoor riding enclosure would be built on an ‘area of archaeological interest’
The application for planning permission for a new private menage (beige rectangle) – an outdoor riding enclosure – is claimed to be an ‘area of archaeological interest’
Records from the Domesday Survey in 1086 indicate the area where the development might stand once belonged to baron and ‘tenant-in-chef’ Alfred of Lincoln, with that land then passing to two noble families – the de Cumptons and de Holywells.
The Holywells are believed to have remained on the land throughout the 13th century.
Government history buffs said remains previously found in the area to the south of the site included boundaries, tofts, crofts and enclosures.
There are also the remnants of a small castle, atop a motte – a small, raised area of land – to the northeast of the proposed development.
It’s recommended that before any work is carried out ‘a Scheme of Archaeological Work, in the form of an archaeological evaluation to determine the presence, character and date of any archaeological deposits present at the site is required.’
It should start with trial trenching, documents said, which is where between two and five per cent of the land is excavated to check for archeological potential.
Historic Environment Officer for Heritage Lincolnshire, Dale Trimble, said in the documents submitted to South Kesteven District Council: ‘In 1086 the Domesday Survey recorded that Alfred of Lincoln held a manor in Stainby.
‘The manor remained intact until the mid-13th century and was then divided between two families, de Cumpton and de Holywell.
‘The site for the proposed development lies in an area of archaeological interest, immediately to the south of earthworks remains of the medieval and post medieval settlement of Stainby.
‘It is considered that the site offers a potential for archaeological remains to be present based on the extent and type of remains recorded in the vicinity.’
Officials gave the go-ahead for a ‘change of use’ of the land into a grazing paddock and stables last August
The couple entered an application to transform an agricultural stables on land at their sprawling mansion in Grantham, Lincs, into a private horse riding paradise in March 2022 (pictured: Rebekah Vardy horse riding at her mansion)
Heritage Lincolnshire claims ‘the site for the proposed development lies in an area of archaeological interest’
Plans were put forward on behalf of the 40-year-old mum-of-five for a 40 by 20 metre menage, usually filled with sand to allow riding in all weathers.
It will sit adjacent to the pre-approved new stables and a grazing area.
The couple entered an application to transform an agricultural stables on land at their sprawling mansion in Grantham, Lincs, into a private horse riding paradise in March 2022.
Officials gave the go-ahead for a ‘change of use’ of the land into a grazing paddock and stables last August, which also included some extra privacy measures including new fences.
But the idea for the menage was only recently submitted – and the Vardys will now need to prove they have carried out archaeological investigations before it can be completed.
It comes after a fire last month destroyed their in-home gym.
Rebekah Vardy’s Instagram story showed a fire engine parked outside the property and read: ‘A massive thank you to @lincolnshirefirerescue you guys are absolutely incredible’
Mrs Vardy also posted a picture of two of their children sitting in the fire engine. The image was captioned: ‘Every cloud and all that. Thankfully no one was hurt… Buildings and contents are replaceable and the kiddies enjoyed the fire engines. Thank you for being so brilliant @lincolnshirefirerescue’
The blaze was thought to have been sparked by an electrical fault, and luckily nobody was hurt.
Rebekah posted to Instagram following the incident, thanking the Lincolnshire fire crew and adding that ‘the kiddies enjoyed the fire engines’.
The horsey plans also follow Rebekah’s humiliating High Court libel defeat against Coleen Rooney, dubbed ‘Wagatha Christie’, last year.
A judge ruled Coleen, 36, had not libelled the wife of the Leicester City striker after she accused her of flogging stories about her and husband Wayne, 37, in a public social media post in 2018.
The judge said Rebakah – who has always maintained her innocence – had to pay 90 per cent of Coleen’s legal fees, at an estimated cost of £1.5 million.
Rebekah is a keen horse rider posting to social media about her love for the sport.
In 2021 she posted a snap of herself astride a steed, with the caption: ‘Sunny Sunday mornings’ with a heart-eyes and horse emoji.
And in 2018 she shared a short video of herself riding one of the ponies.
The caption said: ‘Need to get back into the saddle…’
Rebekah and Jamie share their lush Lincs home, complete with indoor pool, sauna and gym, with their six children, Olivia Grace, Finlay, Sofia, Megan, Taylor and Ella.
Olivia Grace, Finlay, and Sofia are the couple’s biological kids with Jamie acting as step-dad to Megan and Taylor, from Rebekah’s previous relationship with footballer Luke Foster.
Rebekah is step-mum to Ella, Jamie’s daughter from a previous relationship.
A spokesperson for Rebekah Vardy declined to comment.
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