Rickling Hall Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameRickling Hall Motte
Alternative Names
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityEssex
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishQuendon And Rickling

Remains of a large quadrangular building of C14-C15, built in what was probably the bailey of the former castle. Motte and bailey castle south of Rickling Hall. The mount is 18 1/2 ft high and 135ft in diameter at the base. The ditch, now 5ft deep, has been partly destroyed. The ditch and part of a bailey, which apparently existed on the north, have been converted into the moat of the present house. In 1950 the mount was in rather poor condition, was tree covered and apparently a favourite place for cattle in the summer, consequently it was much trampled and somewhat despoiled. Height 4-5m above ground. According to OS 1975 the motte has been disturbed by landscaping and the ditch destroyed. 40m overall in diameter and 5m high. The bailey ditch to the west was converted into the hall moat. Traces of a continuation of the bailey to north and east survive in the form of a farm pond (TL 49983024) and a scarp 1m high to the east of the Hall. Where best preserved the ditch is 22m wide x 2m deep. (Unlocking Essex's Past)

At TL 49913013 to the S of Rickling Hall are the remains of a motte. It has been extensively mutilated by garden landscaping, and the ditch which formerly surrounded it has been filled in, but it survives to a height of 5.0m and measures c 40.0m, in diameter. There is no certain remains of a bailey, though the homestead moat which remains around Rickling Hall could be utilising an earlier defence. No documentary evidence for a castle pre-dating Rickling Hall (c 1500) was found. (PastScape Ref. Field Investigators Comments–F1 NKB 24-MAR-75)

Gatehouse Comments

Last surveyed 1975 so current condition is uncertain but difficult to believe that the construction of a swimming pool over part of the area of the probably bailey has not caused further damage to the underlying archaeology.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL499301
Latitude51.9495506286621
Longitude0.180059999227524
Eastings549910
Northings230130
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Neville, David, 2003, Lost Castles of Essex (Ian Henry) p. 88
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 39
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 146
  • RCHME, 1916, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex Vol. 1 (north-west) p. 222-4 no. 2 online transcription
  • Gould, Chalkley, 1903, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol. 1 p. 300-1, 345-6 online copy

Journals

  • Gould, I.Chackley, 1906, 'Rickling Mount' Essex Archaeological Society Transactions Vol. 9.4 p. 377-9 online copy