Kirkby Moats
Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House
There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains
| Name | Kirkby Moats |
| Alternative Names | Kirkby Mallory |
| Historic Country | Leicestershire |
| Modern Authority | Leicestershire |
| 1974 Authority | Leicestershire |
| Civil Parish | Peckleton |
Kirkby Moats are almost square in plan, each side measuring about 500ft in length. The centre plateau, 90ft square, is surrounded by three ditches and a triple vallum. The innermost moat is 11ft deep and over 45ft wide; this is surrounded by a vallum 17ft in height: the middle moat, not so wide as the inner one, is filled up on the eastern side for length of 30ft, thereby creating a rectangular platform between the two earthen walls. Another platform is found on the same side near the NE angle, and this is pierced by a short arm of the inner moat which penetrates its eastward to the confines of the outer moat, providing an elongated pit. An entrance path curves across the two outer aggers at the NE angle of the works. Indications of two other entrances are at the SE angle, and in the north side towards the NW angle. (VCH)
The earthworks at this site have almost been obliterated; those remaining have been considerably weakened and altered. The present owner, Mr Wright, says that the previous owner had a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture to level the site, he also stated that these moats were mentioned in Domesday. This was presumably, originally a double moated enclosure with adjacent fish ponds. (PastScape–Field Investigators Comments-F1 JB 22-JUN-72)
Hugh de Grentemaisnil held two manors in Kirkby (recorded as Cherebi and Cherchebi) but the 'moats' are not specifically mentioned. (VCH Leicestershire Vol. 1 p. 314).
Not scheduled
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | SK454018 |
| Latitude | 52.6121406555176 |
| Longitude | -1.32978999614716 |
| Eastings | 445420 |
| Northings | 301830 |
