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Summary

Aslackby Castle, may be a medieval moated site but is not a medieval castle

Full description

30066
All but the earthworks of a castle, said to have been built by the Wakes, had disappeared by Leland's time. He mentioned 'great ditches and the dungeon hill'. The outer moat which enclosed about 8 acres can be traced. Between the outer and inner moats are irregular raised banks about 60 feet long and 30 feet wide.{1}{2}{3}
Leland visited Bourne and commented that ‘there appear great ditches and the dungeon hill of an ancient castle against the west side of the priory’. {7} Consequently, D. J. Cathcart-King rejected this site as a castle. It is clear that the quotation from Leland is describing Bourne and not a site in Alsackby. {8} The original error in source 2 has been repeated and perpetuated by later authorities. All the information from source 2, which is in the first paragraph of this description (above), must be considered very unreliable and the entire paragraph may well be referring to Bourne Castle rather than this site. {10}
There is slight disturbance of the surface at site, but no evidence of building foundations, The earthworks represent early quarrying, a pond and a plough headland. Leland's description could not be associated.{1}
Earthworks recorded from aerial photographs by the National Mapping Programme were interpreted as the remains of a medieval pond and a medieval moated enclosure. {9}

<1> OS CARD INDEX, TF 03 SE:5,1965, BHS (Index). SLI2362.

<2> Allen, Thomas, 1834, The history of the county of Lincoln, from the earliest period to the present time, VOL 2, P 283 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI883.

<3> William White, 1872, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire - Third Edition, 571 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI887.

<4> SMR FILE, TF 03 SE:G PHILLIPS, C.W. (Index). SLI2884.

<5> 1945-84, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION, JE85-88,1952, (Aerial Photograph). SLI173.

<6> HBMC, 1975, AM 7, SAM 288 (Scheduling Record). SLI4122.

<7> Lucy Toulmin Smith (ed.), 1964, The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543, vol.1, p.25 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI11985.

<8> Cathcart King, D. J., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum: an Index and Bibliography of the Castles in England, Wales and the Islands, vol.1, p.265 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI13328.

<9> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, National Mapping Programme, TF0830: LI.822.5.1-3 (Map). SLI3613.

<10> Bennet, Mark, 2013, Verbal Communication from Mark Bennet of the Lincolnshire HER, from information provided by Mr Philip Davis (Verbal Communication). SLI14130.

Monument Types

• ENCLOSURE (Undated)
• (Former Type) CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• POND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument
• Conservation Area

Sources and further reading

Related records

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