Monument Type(s):

• FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• FORTIFIED MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (14th century - 1300 AD to 1399 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A well preserved and well documented example of a medieval moated site once containing a fortified manor house (apparently a residence of the lords of Powys in the early 16th century), together with an associated fishpond.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4206 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA4207 - 1977 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA4208 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA4209 - Undated field observation by English Heritage
• ESA4210 - 1987 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA5916 - 1999 site visit by English Heritage MPP Fieldworker
• ESA8727 - 2018 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8625 - 2014 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8621 - 2015 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8361 - 2016 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8362 - 2017 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA9067 - 2019 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England

Description

Charlton Castle, a probable fortified manor house, of which the rectangular moat, now dry, and fragments of walling only remain. One hundred metres to the SE is a large, waterfilled rectangular fishpond. OS FI 1965 <1>

Large well preserved rectangular moat average c14m in width and c3m deep internally, the island being raised c0.7m above the surrounding ground level. The moat, which is waterfilled/waterlogged, has a well preserved causewayed entrance c2m wide across the NW arm which is the only dry arm. The moat island, which measures roughly 68m by 54m has a rubble bank running around most of its perimeter. On the island are excellently preserved building platforms associated with still standing masonry walls. Flanking the inner side of the causeway entrance at the NW side are two rectangular building platforms with large masonry foundations in them-possible flanking gate towers?. This entrance appears to open out into a central courtyard / open area bounded on its NE and SE sides by building platforms. The platform along the SE side is particularly impressive standing up to 0.7m high and surmounted along its W edge by a red sandstone wall up to 1.3m high. The platform at the NE corner has walling up to 3m in height. Extensive wall foundations survive on all the platforms and these suggest buildings of a large and grandiose nature. At the SE corner is a circular mound of rubble c3m in diameter and 0.5m high which may be the foundations of a corner tower. Lying c70m to the SE of the moat is an enormous fishpond c90m in length and c32m wide which is waterfilled again. Two shallow linear ditches c 1.5m in width run from the fishpond to the SE side of the moat. These could be contemporary or be C19 attempts at drainage as is the drain that runs out of the SW corner of the moat. The area to the S of the moat and around the fishpond shows other traces of major drains. Ridge and furrow running NW/SE lies immediately to the east of the moat, abutting onto its SE arm and onto the W side of the fishpond <3>

Sir John Charlton was licensed to crenellate his dwelling at Charlton in 1316, and in 1341 was allowed to have mass celebrated in a chapel there. The defended manor house, known as Charlton Castle, was apparently still used as a residence of the Lords of Powys in the earlier C16, but following 1588, it fell into disuse. Part of and apparently round corner tower and a length of curtain wall remained standing c1820. <4>

Charlton Castle, a homestead moat. Fragments of ancient masonry remain in various spots.
Only the mound remains. The Castle received licence to crenellate in 1317. <5>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: High score as one of 133 Moated sites; Medium score as one of 91 Irregular open Field Systems; High score as one of 52 Fishponds <11>

Scheduling revised 2001. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork, buried and upstanding structural remains of a medieval moated site, a fishpond and associated drainage channels, which lie within two separate areas of protection. ->

-> In 1316 Sir John Charlton was given a licence to crenellate (fortify) the manor house at Charlton and in 1342 he was allowed to celebrate Mass at the chapel constructed here. Charlton Castle, as it was known, was apparently used as a residence of the lords of Powys in the earlier part of the 16th century, but following the manor's sale in 1588 it fell into disuse. ->

-> The moated site was constructed on level ground in an area of undulating land. The moat def1nes a rectangular island approximately 55m north west-south east by 70m south west-north east. The arms of the moat are between 14m and 16m wide and are partially waterlogged. Access to the island is via a 5m wide causeway, which crosses the northern part of the north western moat arm. A curtain wall was constructed around the sides of the island and is now apparent as a low and discontinuous bank, standing up to 0.6m high. Mounds of demolished and collapsed masonry, level areas bounded by embanked wall foundations and sections of upstanding masonry up to 3.2m high, indicate that the castle consisted of ranges of buildings set round a central courtyard. All visible portions of masonry are comprised of squared and irregular blocks of limestone and red sandstone. ->

-> To the south east of the castle, and aligned north east-south west, is a large water-filled rectangular fishpond. It is approximately 30m wide by 92m long and was created by digging into a north facing slope. Water was originally channeled into the pond from the north east, with a bypass channel located along its south eastern side. Water was discharged from the pond by means of an outflow channel situated at its south western corner. The bypass channel, together with 10m long sections of the inflow and outflow channels, are included in the scheduling to preserve the relationship between these features and the fishpond. ->

-> All gate and fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included <12>

Aerial photographs taken in 1995 indicate that the supposed furrows between the moated site and the fishpond [<3><11>], which connect with former field boundaries cum drainage ditches, were created when field drains were laid. The area between the moated site and the fishpond is under cultivation. <13>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009. <15>

Sources

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