Upton St Leonard moat

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are uncertain remains

NameUpton St Leonard moat
Alternative NamesKimsbury; Castle End Bungalow
Historic CountryGloucestershire
Modern AuthorityGloucestershire
1974 AuthorityGloucestershire
Civil ParishUpton St Leonards

The site of the partly moated manor house of Elgar of Kimsbury (c.1121 AD) lies in a deep hollow at the foot of Painswick Hill (SO 8612), on the Gloucester side. There is a good spring there, and indications of boundary ditches can be seen (W.St.Clair Baddeley 1921). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

The site is no more closely identified in the online archaeological databases than being in square SO8612. In this square are two Kimsbury house names (Kimsbury Farm at SO865125 is close to a spring) however the description seems to be more that of the spring at SO866123 (near Castle End Bungalow). Baddeley certain knew of that site and had an interest in it since he excavated here in 1921 (see PastScape 115563) finding "Pottery, a bill-hook, a fibula of 2nd century type and a human skull" although these Roman finds do not suggest a medieval site. His given history of 1921 seems to come from Bazeley. The lack of information suggests this was not generally accepted as the site of a moated manor house. Elgar of Kimsbury certainly existed and had a house in this area but the evidence for it being moated is scant; the bury part of the name probably referring to the overlooking Iron Age hill fort (The 'castle end' name certainly refers to the hill fort); the 'boundary ditch' may be a relic of a possible longer boundary marker (see Nielsen), a misinterpretation on quarry works (numerous small quarries lie at the foot of the ridge), a drainage feature or some other such.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO865123
Latitude51.8096008300781
Longitude-2.19601988792419
Eastings386580
Northings212340
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Baddelely, W St Clair, 1929 (2edn), A Cotteswold Manor (Longmans, Green and Co) p. 20

Journals

  • Nielsen, C., 1999, 'A possible medieval boundary wall on Painswick Beacon Common' Glevensis Vol. 32. p. 39 online copy
  • Baddelely, W St Clair, 1921, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 27 p. 105
  • Bazeley, Wm, 1882-3, 'History of Prinknash Park' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 7 p. 269 online copy