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Monument Types

• CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
• CASTLE? (Medieval - 1067 AD to 1539 AD)

Summary

The site, although described as a mound, is a circular enclosure with a deep ditch and a counterscarp bank. Hoskins describes it as an adulterine castle, which is possible. It could also be a burial mound or the site of a windmill.

Additional Information

<1> Historic England, National Heritage List for England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1010839 (Website). SLE7874.

Scheduled Monument descripton extract:
"The monument at Ingarsby known as `Monk's Grave' is a moated site and is situated on high ground 1km north of the village of Houghton-on-the-Hill. The moated site is sub-circular in shape and approximately 50m in diameter with a surrounding ditch 8-12m wide and up to 2m deep. The moat island forms a raised platform about 1m above ground level. The moat is currently dry and contains a spring on the eastern side. On the north-eastern side there is an outer bank 4m wide and 1.5m high which terminates 5m from a field boundary, and indicates the position of an entrance."
Scheduled 31/07/1952, most recent amendment 10/03/1992

<2> Leicestershire SMR Comment, PL (undated) (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

The site although described as a mound is a circular enclosure with a deep ditch and a counterscarp bank (now partly ploughed away). The centre is 1/2 platform 1/2 mound.

<3> 1956, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 32, Vol 32 (1956), p46-7 (Journal). SLE5968.

Hoskins describes it as an adulterine castle

<4> Liddle, P., 1983, A Guide to 20 Archaeological Sites in Leicestershire (Bibliographic reference). SLE2990.

RTSH thinks it is possible this is a castle, as stated by Hoskins. Other possibilities exist such as burial mound and/or windmill stead.

<5> Leicestershire SMR Comment, PL 03/12/86 (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

Site visited 03/12/86. Interior of site badly damaged by badger sett. Can be little structural evidence surviving.

<6> Leicestershire SMR Comment, PL (undated) (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

In 1852 the LLPS were recommended to open the 'large round tumulus' near Ingarsby but declined because it seemed to have already been opened.

<7> Leicestershire SMR Comment, RPJ 02/1989 (Unpublished document). SLE7870.

Surveyed by RFH 1988.

<8> 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.

"'Monk's Grave' is a relatively small mound with a ring ditch, but with no bailey ditch. It is very similar in form to the Kibworth Harcourt earthwork. Other ideas such as a hermitage or barrow have been put forward."

<9> Hartley, RF, 2018, The medieval earthworks of south and south-east Leicestershire, p158 (Bibliographic reference). SLE5736.

"Some 500m south-west of Ingarsby village is an isolated mound called the 'Monk's Grave', with a central platform some 25m in diameter, surrounded by a ditch 10m wide. This has been variously interpreted as a small fortified site, and as a rabbit warren, but its purpose is not yet ascertained. It may also be a remote viewing mound for the landscape of the gardens (op cit)."

<10> 2016, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) accessioning (Website). SLE4981.

SUMMARY: "Medieval moat, formerly considered as a 12th century adulterine motte, surviving as an earthwork. The moat is sub circular and approximately 50 metres in diameter with a surrounding ditch 8-12 metres wide and up to 2 metres deep. The moat island forms a raised platform about 1 metre above ground level with an outer bank 4 metres wide and 1.5 metres high on the north-eastern side which terminates 5 metres from a field boundary and indicates the position of an entrance. Scheduled."
URL: 'https://nrhe-to-her.esdm.co.uk/NRHE/RecordDetail.aspx?pageid=45&he_uid=319222', accessioned 15/10/2024.

<11> Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 (6") and 10K historic mapping, 1939 (Map). SLE7243.

(SK 68150489) Monk's Grave (NR).

<12> Ordance Survey Archaeology Division, Annotated Record Map, M P Dare/NOV-1926 (Map). SLE7735.

A circular mound with very deep ditch which in places has a counterscarp. The name is local and probably derives from an association with the Leicester Abbey Grange at Ingarsby Old Hall.

<13> Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Field Investigators Comments, R L B Work/21-OCT-1953 (Website). SLE3488.

A large, low flat-topped mound surrounded by a wide ditch with a small counterscarp bank on east and south-east sides. Almost certainly a castle-mound connected with the settlement at Ingarsby. 1:2500 survey revised.

<14> Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Field Investigators Comments, B H Seaman/21-JAN-1972 (Website). SLE3488.

Dr W G Hoskins of All Souls College, Oxford, informs me that in his opinion it is a 12th century adulterine motte. No change.

<15> Scheduled Monument List/Amendment, English Heritage SAM Amendment Leicestershire 10-MAR-1992 (Scheduling record). SLE7368.

SK 6814 0488. Moated site at Ingarsby.
The moat is sub-circular and approximately 50m in diameter with a surrounding ditch 8-12m wide and up to 2m deep. The moat island forms a raised platform about 1m above ground level with an outer bank 4m wide and 1.5m high on the north-eastern side which terminates 5m from a field boundary and indicates the position of an entrance. Scheduled (RSM) No 17057.

<16> 2010, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2010, p28 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7395.

On Heritage at Risk Register 2010: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING

<17> 2011, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2011, p32 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7396.

On Heritage at Risk Register 2011: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING

<18> 2012, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2012, p34 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7398.

On Heritage at Risk Register 2012: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING

<19> 2013, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2013, p20 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7406.

Heritage at Risk Register 2013: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<20> 2014, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2014, p18 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7407.

Heritage at Risk Register 2014: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<21> 2015, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2015, p20 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7421.

Heritage at Risk Register 2015: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<22> 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p19 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7422.

Heritage at Risk Register 2016: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<23> 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p20 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7423.

Heritage at Risk Register 2017: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<24> 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p21 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7425.

Heritage at Risk Register 2018: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<25> 2019, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2019, p20 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7426.

Heritage at Risk Register 2019: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<26> 2020, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2020, p21 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7427.

Heritage at Risk Register 2020: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<27> 2021, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2021, p21 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7448.

Heritage at Risk Register 2021: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<28> 2022, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2022, p20 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7076.

Heritage at Risk Register 2022: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<29> 2023, Heritage at Risk: Midlands Register 2023, p21 (Bibliographic reference). SLE7389.

Heritage at Risk Register 2023: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

<30> Historic England, 2024, Heritage at Risk Register 2024, entries, additions and removals (Index). SLE7978.

Heritage at Risk Register 2024: condition EXTENSIVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS; principal vulnerability VEHICLE DAMAGE/EROSION - EXTENSIVE; owner type PRIVATE; trend DECLINING; new entry NO

Sources

Associated Finds

None recorded

Designations

• Scheduled Monument 1010839: MOATED SITE AT INGARSBY

Associated Images

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