Laysters Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

NameLaysters Motte
Alternative NamesLeysters
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishLaysters

Earthwork remains of a mutilated Motte. The motte is 27m in diameter across its top and standing up to 2.4m above the surrounding ground. It is surrounded by a ditch 9m wide and 1.1m deep. (PastScape)

Circular mound S of church. 25yds diam at top. Rises 9' above bottom of surrounding ditch, dug into in modern times and only part filled in (RCHME) Motte 27m diam across top up to 2-4m above surrounding ground. Encompassed by ditch 9m wide and up to 1.1m deep. No trace of bailey. (OS record, 1970) Proportions suggest that is mutilated ringwork. (OS record 1971) Excavated earlier this century but only finds were signs of burnt material & stone. No ref to excav report. (Hinkling, 1970) Members of the archaeology section of the Woolhope Club visited the site (21/003/93). Note was made of the lack of buried stone in the ditch that might indicate that unless the tower was completely quarried out the castle might not have progressed from the timber defences stage. It also might not have been completed, as there is not much sign of a bailey. (HAN, 1993). (Herefordshire SMR)

Gatehouse Comments

By C12 church. Either a relatively large low flat motte acting as a raised building platform with all the residential buildings of a small castle on the motte top or a small ringwork, now infilled, with all the residential buildings within the ringwork. Whatever does not seem to have had a defended bailey (although must have had more farm buildings and stabling) and can only have been a small castle.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO568632
Latitude52.2653503417969
Longitude-2.63397002220154
Eastings356830
Northings263210
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 198
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 47
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 208
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 11
  • RCHME, 1934, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 3: north-west p. 104 No. 7 online transcription
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 228

Journals

  • Archaeological Research Section Woolhope NFC, 1993, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 60 p. 40, 42 (plan)
  • Hickling, R., 1970, 'Deserted Medieval Villages' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club_Vol. 40 p. 176
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  • 1892, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p. 281