Castlefacts³

Morley Church mound

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

Name	Morley Church mound
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Derbyshire
Modern Authority	Derbyshire
1974 Authority	Derbyshire
Civil Parish	Morley

Small mound was excavated by Bateman in the 1860's but nothing was found. It lies to the North-East of, and near to the church. It is suggested that it was a motte and the site of the original manor of Morley before it moved to the East of the church. (PastScape)

It has generally been assumed that this mound was a tumulus or barrow. The late Mr. T. O. Bateman had trenches dug through it in the 'sixties' of last century, but with no result. Mr. Andrew's opinion that this is the worn-down mound of an early holder of Morley who moved here in more peaceful times, from the still earlier stockaded position to the west, in order to be near the church, seems far more tenable. (VCH)

Gatehouse Comments

The later manor house certainly seems to have been by the church and it is possible there were two manors at Morley. However the mound by the church is clearly very worn down but it does not seem it was ever any great size nor is there much evidence of ditches. May just be a spoil mound associated with the graveyard and local marl pits. However, David King does record this as a motte and he was an experience observer of castle earthworks. Does not seem to be recorded in the Derbyshire HER.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

1391059

County Historic Environment Record

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/environment/conservation/archaeology/default.asp

OS Map Grid Reference	SK396410
Latitude	52.9655609130859
Longitude	-1.41147005558014
Eastings	439620
Northings	341070