Monument Type(s):

• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOATED SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A well-preserved example of a medieval moated manor site, which is believed to be the centre of the 12th century manor of Cheswardine, and has some unusual features.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1072 - 1962 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1073 - 1973 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1074 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1075 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA1076 - 1981 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1077 - 1982 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1078 - 1984 field observation by English Heritage

Description

Cheswardine Castle, apparently first mentioned in 1330, was perhaps more of a fortified manor than a battlemented castle. Nothing of the structure remains; the moat is still plainly seen. <1a>
Homestead Moat. <1b>

Moated site situated on level ground on the N side of the village...on the highest point of the village-the land slopes away to the N and E. Well preserved rectangular moated site with wide and deep waterfilled moat. The moat arms average c25m in width an c3m in depth except at the SW side where there is a large outward bulge in the moat...Stone built causeways cross both the N and S arms -.. both later (C19?) additions. The island is roughly 30m square and is level with no remains of building foundations. The site is generally well preserved .. except at the SE corner where the moat ditch has been partially infilled...and the inner and outer faces of the moat have been cut back...The site is in a wooded plantation, currently (1981), being felled, with the moat island itself in the process of being cleared and the SE corner being used as the access point for the heavy machinery involved. On the exterior W side of the moat is an 80m long bank, its W side abutting directly onto a lane. It runs NW/SE and averages 1.2m in height and 1.2m in width. Fifty metres to its SE is a similar bank...these banks are probably related to the moat. M Watson FI 1981 <5>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 133 Moated sites <9>

Scheduling revised in 2000. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site, known as Cheswardine Castle, and an associated linear bank. The moated site is considered to be the centre of the manor of Cheswardine which was granted to Hamo (Hamon) le Strange by Henry II in 1155. In 1330 the castle is reported to be of little strength and in 1376 the manor passed from the le Strange family to Richard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey. ->

-> The moated site occupies a prominent location in an area of undulating land, 130m north of St Swithun's Church. The water-filled moat defines a square island 30m across. The arms of the moat are all about 28m wide and over 2m deep, with the exception of the southern part of the western arm which has been made wider to form an enlarged pool. The extended moat arm is shown on 18th century estate maps indicating that it is not a modern creation. On one of these maps, a causeway across the southern arm is depicted at the point where a more recent stone causeway has been built. This later causeway is matched by another of the same type across the opposite arm which survives in a ruinous state. Both these causeways are included in the scheduling. There are no upstanding remains of any structures on the island, although embedded cut blocks of red sandstone, notably at the south eastern corner of the island, indicate the nature of some the medieval buildings that survive as buried features. ->

-> On the western side of the moated site a linear bank, approximately 90m long and between 8m and 12m wide, has been constructed. It is orientated north west -south east and partly overlies the outer edge of the modified portion of the south western moat arm. The height of this earthwork increases substantially (from about 1.2m to 4m) as it crosses the moat arm. On its western side it is bounded by Lawn Lane, a long established route way. The exact purpose of this bank is unclear, but it is included in the scheduling to preserve its relationship with the moated site. ->

-> Another linear bank lies 40m to the south of the moated site. It is about 40m long, 8m wide, 1.6m high and is cut by a 19th century boundary wall. This earthwork has no clear relationship with the moated site, and is therefore not included in the scheduling. ->

-> A number of features are excluded from the scheduling, these are: fences and modern boundary walls, the gate pier and gate at the north western corner of the site, the surface of the associated track, the garden furniture on the island and the wooden bird boxes within the moat; the ground beneath all these features is, however, included <10>

This is a well preserved square homestead moat which is water-filled except in the north-east corner. There is no trace of an original causeway or of a building on the level tree-covered interior. An outward bulge on the west side is apparently an original feature. On the exterior west side is an 80.0m. long bank with an average height of 1.2 m. Its purpose is obscure although it appears to be an integral part of the moated site. Published survey (25") to be amended by field surveyor. <11>
No change, from survey of 4.4.62. The moat averages 2.5 m deep to water level. Published survey (1:2500 1966) correct. <11a>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.