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Summary

Wybert's Castle moated site.

Full description

An earthwork enclosing 10 acres, consisting of a well-preserved bank and ditch on three sides and part of the fourth. Excavation by P. Mayes disclosed a discontinuous limestone wall and a 12th to 13th century occupation layer. Later ridge tiles suggest occupation into the 15th century. White, after Dugdale and others states that the village of Wyberton has its name from Wybert, one of the knights and senechals of Algar, Earl of Mercia. Thompson also refers to Dugdale, and says 'we do not find any record or tradition of a parish called Wibertus being connected with this town, and think Aberton, the town at the mouth of the river, is a much more probable origin'. The site of Wybert's Castle can still be plainly discerned, with its moat and drawbridge, in a field situated about a quarter of a mile to the east of the parish church. Aerial photographs show slight internal disturbance and two depressions, probably fishponds, on the north side of the earthworks. In the field to the north, at TF 335 412, are other ditches and marks which may be associated with the earthwork. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}{6}

This is a strongly defended moated site with associated fishponds. The gap in the defences to the north-east is presumably the result of infilling. The field to the north has been ploughed and no earthworks survive. There is no certain evidence of a building site. Published survey (25 inch) revised. {7}

The monument has been scheduled as a medieval moated site, covering an area measuring 210m by 170m. {8}

Excavations undertaken in 1959-1960 revealed remains of stone structures on the eastern half of the island, associated with pottery which suggested that the moated site was occupied during the 12th and 13th centuries and with some evidence that the site may have been in use until the 15th century. {9}{10}

<1> OS CARD INDEX, TF 34 SW: 17, 1965, D.A. (Index). SLI2858.

<2> HURST, J.G., 1961, MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY, vol.5, pp.327-8 (Article in Serial). SLI528.

<3> William White, 1872, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Third Edition, p.807 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI887.

<4> Pishey Thompson, 1856, The Histories and Antiquities of Boston, p.549, footnote (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1071.

<5> Sir William Dugdale, 1817-30, Monasticon Anglicanum: a History of the Abbeys and other Monasteries, Hospitals, Friaries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with their Dependencies, in England and Wales, p.68 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1018.

<6> RAF, 1946-71, RAF POST WAR COLLECTION, 106G:VK:1706; 4118-9,1946, (Aerial Photograph). SLI134.

<7> SMR FILE, TF 34 SW: AD (Index). SLI3400.

<8> English Heritage, 1999, Scheduling document 31609, MPP 33 (Scheduling Record). SLI5375.

<9> 1958, EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN, - (Index). SLI2228.

<10> Mayes, P., 1959, Parish File (Unpublished Document). SLI5376.

Monument Types

• CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Events

• Field observation of Wybert's Castle
• Excavations at Wybert's Castle

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

Related records

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