Southoe

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are uncertain remains

NameSouthoe
Alternative NamesBoughton
Historic CountryHuntingdonshire
Modern AuthorityCambridgeshire
1974 AuthorityCambridgeshire
Civil Parish

Mentioned 1140 and 1153. (King)

Odo de Dammartin was granted 'as much land as the site of the castle comprises' at Boughton in Southoe by the Earl of Northampton between 1140-53 (B.M. Add. Charters 11233, quoted by F.M. Stenton, The First Century of English Feudalism, p. 197). (Renn 1973)

The only indication of the presence of a castle at Boughton in Southoe parish is a passing mention in a charter of the mid-twelfth century. Sometime between 1140 and 1153, Earl Simon de Senlis of Northampton granted to Odo de Damartin land at Boughton in Southoe manor near St. Neots, consisting of as much land "as the site of the castle comprises." King suggests that a moated site at Diddington may represent the castle, but this is only a guess. (Lowerre)

Gatehouse Comments

King suggested Diddington TL198647). However, probably one of the two Southoe sites recorded by Renn of which Manor Farm is the most likely and Southoe Town Orchard less so. Lowerre (2005) believes there 'was no castle at Broughton in Southoe in the late-eleventh century' but the granting of an abandoned site in 1140 suggest the castle was old by then. However, Dammartin's 'castle' may not have been the sort of castle site Lowerre apparently narrowly defines.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid Reference
Latitude0
Longitude0
Eastings0
Northings0

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Books

  • Lowerre, A.G., 2005, Placing Castles in the Conquest. Landscape, Lordship and Local Politics in the South-Eastern Midlands, 1066-1100 (Oxford: John and Erica Hedges Ltd: BAR British Series 385) p. 238
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 225
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 314-15
  • Senton, F.M., 1961, First Century of English Feudalism, 1066-1166 (Clarendon Press) p. 197

Primary Sources

  • British Library Additional Charter 11233

Other

  • Lowerre, A.G., 2004, Placing Castles in the Conquest. Landscape, Lordship and Local Politics in the South-Eastern Midlands, 1066-1100 (PhD thesis: Boston College) p. 506-8