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Monument Types

• MOTTE AND BAILEY? (Medieval - 1067 AD to 1539 AD)

Summary

Nichols (1795) wrote that, "by the water mill at Garthorpe stood a castle". The area was still called Castle Close in the C18th. A motte and ditch were noted during fieldwork in 1976 in the field east of Garthorpe Mill.

Additional Information

A motte and ditch was noted during fieldwork in February 1979 (MJW) in the field E of Garthorpe Mill. (RFH 30/01/87)

<1> Nichols J, The History and Antiquities of Leicestershire, Vol 2 pt 2 (1795), p186, p190 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7.

"By the water mill" at Garthorpe stood a castle. (Nichols) The area was still known as Castle Close in the C18th.
(There is a mill at SK 835209 but there is no evidence of the site of a castle on RAF APs of 1954).

<2> 1977-8, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 53, Vol 53 (1977-8), p38 (Journal). SLE5951.

Listed as a "possible site" in Cantor's "Medieval Castles of Leicestershire". There is no documentary evidence.

<3> 1978-9, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 54, Vol 54 (1978-9), p75 (Journal). SLE5932.

Additional information on medieval castles (AD McWhirr and MJ Winter): "There is indeed evidence to support Nichols's statement that a castle stood next to the water mill. An impressive motte still stands 4-5 m high adjacent to a water course for the mill and is shown as a mound on the plan published in the Annual Report of the Medieval Village Research Group, 1976."

<4> Hartley R F, 1987, The Medieval Earthworks of North-East Leicestershire, p9 & p31 (Bibliographic reference). SLE496.

"There was a castle here, just by the water mill, and the close is still called 'The Castle Close'. The ditch and area of the inclosure are not very plain." (a)

<5> Elkin, Kathleen (ed), 2015, Medieval Leicestershire: Recent Research on the Medieval Archaeology of Leicestershire, p138, "Medieval fortified sites of Leics & Rutland", Richard Knox (Bibliographic reference). SLE5149.

"Nichols (1804, 186, 190) mentions a castle close to the watermill, in an area known as 'Castle Close'. A large, oval mound, 4 or 5 metres high, is sited adjacent to the medieval watermill site on the eastern edge of the village (McWhirr and Winter 1979, 74-5; Hartley 1987, 9 & 31).

<6> 2016, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) accessioning (Website). SLE4981.

SUMMARY: "Castle Close; alleged site of a castle. A motte is said to stand here 4 to 5 metres high."
URL: 'https://nrhe-to-her.esdm.co.uk/NRHE/RecordDetail.aspx?pageid=45&he_uid=323648', accessioned 03/01/2024.

<7> Field Investigators Comments, F1 FDC 12-APR-72 (Website). SLE3488.

"Castle Close" unknown locally and tithe maps not available. Perambulation revealed shrinkage earthworks only. See SK 82 SW 9.

Sources

Associated Finds

None recorded

Designations

• SHINE: Mound, possibly remains of motte and bailey castle, Garthorpe

Associated Images

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