Castlefacts³

Little Sampford Moat

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Little Sampford Moat
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Essex
Modern Authority	Essex
1974 Authority	Essex
Civil Parish	Little Sampford

Homestead moat. Moat 7m wide, 0.5m deep, enclosure flat, moat wet. Possible mill mound? Small flat circular enclosure, c90ft across, surrounded by a moat c15ft wide, in a dense plantation 1600ft west of Little Sampford Church. Not a defensive work, probably the site of Freshwell Hundred moot. The circular waterfilled ditch lies in a close copse on level ground. Overall is 35m in diameter, ditch averages c4m wide. No trace of a causeway, 1.5m deep.. Interior same level as surrounding land. Apart from coppicing, it seems to be undisturbed. 1839 tithe map shows neither copse nor enclosure. Could be they are contemporary. 1978-ditch permanently dry, circles of outer and inner slopes of ditch slightly flattened beside road suggesting layout "had to be modified to accommodate the existing feature". OS suggests probably modern ditched enclosure. Ring work? In 1086 Richard, son of Gilbert, held 5 hides in demesne. (Unlocking Essex's Past)

Gatehouse Comments

Has been suggested as a 'Ringwork' but it is unclear if this was a loose use of the term or a serious suggestion that this might be a castle site.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

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

376767

County Historic Environment Record

unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/uep/custom_pages/monument_detail.asp?content_page_id=68&previous_page_id=48&monument_id=5315

OS Map Grid Reference	TL647336
Latitude	51.976749420166
Longitude	0.397560000419617
Eastings	564760
Northings	233630