Chevington Hall

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameChevington Hall
Alternative Names
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishChevington

C16 farmhouse with extensive C18-C19 alterations, on the site of Chevington Hall, a retiring place for the abbot of St Edmund's monastery mentioned in 1309. No trace of the original building can now be seen although large quantities of dressed and undressed stone have been found in the area. A park and hunting lodge is also recorded, together with a mill. The farm is enclosed by a strong sub rectangular moat measuring 280 by 200m with traces of internal and external banks in parts, cut into a slight southerly slope. Parts are now dry, although the east arm has been widened to form two fishponds, a causeway between the ponds probably marking the original entrance to the island. An elongated mound 2.5m lies outside the moat, but its purpose is obscure. (PastScape)

The Abbots had a deer park to the north of the moated site; the park is mentioned in 1492. (Suffolk HER ref. Gage)

In November 1328 Abbot Richard de Draughton was captured by the rioting townsmen of Bury St Edmunds at his manor of Chevington and abducted. (Suffolk HER ref. Arnold)

Gatehouse Comments

The events of 1328 makes the point that regardless of the strength of defences no moated house was ever likely to have a large enough garrison to resist a mob, let alone an army. Such defences might delay an attack by a mob long enough for a counter assault by legal authorities to be mounted. However the defensive function of moats would have been to deter burglars. The main functions of moats may well have been other than defence and include fashion, symbolism and aesthetics and other such seemingly nebulous factors.

- 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 ReferenceTL789602
Latitude52.2110595703125
Longitude0.617659986019135
Eastings578900
Northings260200
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) (Shown on map of fortified houses of East Anglia)
  • Martin, Edward, 1999 (3edn), 'Medieval Castles' in Dymond, David and Martin, Edward (eds) An Historical Atlas of Suffolk (Lavenham) p. 58-9
  • Wall, 1911, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Suffolk Vol. 1 p. 620 online copy
  • Copinger, W.A., 1911, Manors of Suffolk Vol. 7 p. 19 (tenurial history) online copy
  • Arnold, T., 1892, Memorials of St Edmunds Abbey Vol. 2
  • Gage, J., 1838, History & Antiquities of Suffolk, Thingoe Hundred p. 323-6

Journals

  • 2007, 'Archaeology in Suffolk 2006' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol. 41.3 p. 369, 370 (slight) online copy
  • 2005, 'Archaeology in Suffolk 2004' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol. 41.1 p. 116 (slight) online copy