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The Historic Environment Record for Bedfordshire

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Name:MOTTE & BAILEYS, Manor Farm
HER No.:81
Type of Record:Monument

Summary

Extensive earthwork remains of a Motte and triple bailey castle , now in part mutilated. Grassed over building foundations were noted on top of the mound during field investigation in 1972. There has been slight soil robbery on the west face and the bailey defences though now slight, show evidence of having been more robust.

Grid Reference:SP 942 628
Parish:PODINGTON, BEDFORD BOROUGH, BEDFORDSHIRE
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Full Description

A complex of earthworks around Manor Farm include the remains of a motte and bailey castle. The motte is situated to the north of the present house and is surrounded by other earthworks representing the bailey and alterations probably related to a later manor house.

The NHRE describes an earthwork (at SP 943629), situated north of Podington Manor House, consists of a circular motte, only slightly raised above the level of the top of the hill and probably originally surrounded by a ditch. It lies within an outer enclosure defended by a ditch with a parapet on the inner face, of which the NW angle is still visible. (1)

Motte and bailey type castle with an outer enclosure large enough to circumscribe the whole village. (2)

Extensive remains of a motte with triple bailey, now in part mutilated. Grassed over building foundations are visible atop the mound and there has been slight soil robbery on the west face;
the bailey defences, 'though now slight', show evidence of former robust construction. There is no ground evidence to support the suggestion, by Pevsner (2), that the village was formerly circumscribed by an earthwork. See annotated/revised 1:2500 published survey. (3)

Protected Status: None recorded

Monument Type(s):

  • CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FLOOR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POST HOLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WELL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events: None recorded