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Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 321471

Hob Uid: 321471
Location :
Leicestershire
Melton
Waltham on the Wolds and Thorpe Arnold
Grid Ref : SK7680020000
Summary : Thorpe Arnold: unclassified earthworks possibly incorporating the 'Castle' site; possibly the site of a moated manor house. There are a series of earthworks here of more than one period. They are probably of Medieval date
More information : (SK 769 2900) Earthwork [G.T.] (1)

At Thorpe Arnold are miscellaneous earthworks including a bank enclosing a square, a large fishpond, and to the west elaborate defences. Suggested as being a prehistoric site later utilised for manorial defences. (2)

S.W. of St. Mary's Church, Thorpe Arnold, in a poor defensive position on level ground on the edge of a slope down to the river, there is a series of earthworks, apparently of more than one period. The first period is represented by an oval earthwork, the N. and E. sides only of which survive, measuring internally 140 m. NE SW by about 110 m. transversely. It consists of a large flattened rampart with outer ditch (see section) which is now largely waterfilled though this is clearly a comparatively recent feature as evidenced by a brick-riveted pond-bay at the S. end. The W. side and most of the S. side has been either extensively mutilated by quarrying or overlaid by another earthwork comprising a large flat-topped bank, 9.0 m. wide and 1.5 m. high with no ditch. It is rectangular on plan and flanks an olds road on the E. At the foot of the slope to the W. there is a spring and a probable fish-pond. These earthworks are probably medieval.
Resurveyed at 1/2500. (3)

Earthworks visible. (4)

The earthworks, which remain unchanged, are located in a field called Hall Close (a). This is the clue to the later portions which are similar to others in Leicestershire and Northants which belong to the late med. and early post med. periods. (5)

Cantor includes Thorpe Arnold in a list of castles in the county quoting John Nichols (a) as saying that Ernald de Bois, steward to Robert 'Bossu' had a residence here. At this date such a residence need not have been a proper castle but was more likely to have been a moated manor house. This could be associated with the earthworks
at 769 290. (6)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 25" 1930
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : (J. C. Wall)
Page(s) : 270,274
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Plates :
Vol(s) : 1907
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : F1 AC 12-SEP-62
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Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : AP (CUC AMX 11)
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Source Number : 4a
Source :
Source details : Tithe Map 1849
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Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : F2 BHS 21-APR-72
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Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : (L Cantor)
Page(s) : 39-40
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 53 - 1977-78
Source Number : 6a
Source :
Source details : Nichols J 1975 History and Antiquities of Leicestershire vol 2 (part 1) p22
Page(s) :
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Castle, Manor House, Moat
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Earthwork

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Leicestershire)
External Cross Reference Number : 72SE Q
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SK 72 SE 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1962-09-12
End Date : 1962-09-12
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1972-04-21
End Date : 1972-04-21