Shawell, Catthorpe

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameShawell, Catthorpe
Alternative Names
Historic CountryLeicestershire
Modern AuthorityLeicestershire
1974 AuthorityLeicestershire
Civil ParishShawell

Medieval motte and associated mound (part of surrounding defence) surviving as earthworks. The motte comprises a circular, flat topped mound, 3m to 4m high and 35m in diameter with a surrounding ditch 7m wide and 1.5m deep on the south side but not visible to the north. 20m to the south of the motte is a smaller circular mound, approximately 20m in diameter and 1m high, which is the only remaining feature of a series of defensive earthworks known to have existed in the vicinity of the motte. (PastScape)

A possible Norman castle consisting of medieval enclosures and a mound 3-4m high and 35m in diameter.

Scheduled Monument description:

The monument at Shawell is situated 75m south of the church, between Lutterworth and Rugby, near the southern boundary of Leicestershire, and includes two protected areas.The motte comprises a circular, flat-topped mound and surrounding ditch. The mound is 3-4m high and 35m in diameter, with an area 10m in diameter on the top. The ditch measures 7m wide and 1.5m deep on the south side but is not visible north of the motte. Twenty metres to the south of the motte is a smaller circular mound, approximately 20m in diameter and 1m high, which is the only remaining feature of a series of defensive earthworks known to have existed in the vicinity of the motte castle.

A large mound c.30m in diameter with the remains of a wide ditch on the south side lies within presumably medieval rectilinear enclosures. It has been surveyed by RFH.

VCH describe it as a large prehistoric barrow, but it has also been described as a castle mound.

From its size and shape and position in relation to the church it is probably a Norman castle. (Leicestershire and Rutland HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Site alternatively described as 'castle mound', 'tumulus' or 'large moated site'. Location next to church and later hall is consistent with castle but the remains are not entirely obvious as a motte and bailey. Possibly the site of documented castle of Catthorpe.

- 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 ReferenceSP541795
Latitude52.411678314209
Longitude-1.20604002475739
Eastings454110
Northings279590
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Mat Fascione and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image

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Books

  • Knox, Richard, 2015, 'The medieval fortified sites of Leicestershire and Rutland' in Medieval Leicestershire: Recent research on the Medieval Archaeology of Leicester (Liecestershire Fieldworks 3) p. 123-42
  • Cantor, Leonard, 2003, The Scheduled Ancient Monument of Leicestershire and Rutland (Leicester: Kairos Press) p. 39
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 43
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 255, 256
  • Hoskins, W.G., 1970, Leicestershire: A Shell Guide (London: Faber and Faber) p. 96
  • Wall, C., 1907, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm, (ed), VCH Leicestershire Vol. 1 p. 275 (where called a barrow) online copy

Journals

  • Creighton, O.H., 1997, 'Early Leicestershire Castles: Archaeology and Landscape History' Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 71 p. 30-1 online copy
  • Cantor, Leonard, 1977-8, 'The Medieval Castles of Leicestershire' Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 53 p. 39 online copy

Other

  • Creighton, O.H., 1998, Castles and Landscapes: An Archaeological Survey of Yorkshire and the East Midlands (PhD Thesis University of Leicester) p. 148, 155, 273-5, 399 online copy