Castlefacts³

Scoulton Motte

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

Name	Scoulton Motte
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Norfolk
Modern Authority	Norfolk
1974 Authority	Norfolk
Civil Parish	Scoulton

Site of Motte and Bailey. B Cozens-Hardy owns a sketch plan made circa 1850.

The remains of the earthworks still exist of the once famous castle of the Fitz-Langs close by the celebrated mere (Scoulton mere) (Bryant 2896).

There are no surveyable remains at the indicated site which is however topographically suitable for defence. The enclosed oval field is very slightly raised above the surrounding area reaching a maximum height of 0.4 m.

Despite the reference to "the once famous castle ...", extensive research has produced no other mention; it was confirmed that the family owned lands at Scoulton in the 13th/15th centuries but no mention of a residence could be found.

Tithe maps consulted carry no indicative field names (F1 JB 24-JAN-73). (PastScape)

An oval enclosure is recorded half a mile north of Abergavenny Farm. It is believed that this is the earthwork of the castle built by Constantine Mortimer that was licensed by Edward II. The site was ploughed in 1945 but the damage this may have caused has not been determined. It has been suggested that the castle site lies to the south (NHER 8809) but it still unclear where exactly the castle was situated. A study of enclosure and tithe maps has not provided any place name evidence to indicate where the medieval castle stood. (Norfolk HER)

Gatehouse Comments

In 1319 Oct 16, Constantinus de Mortuo Mari (Constantin Mortimer) was granted a licence to crenellate Sculton, county Norfolk. The location of this house is not securely identified but was in this parish. Two possible sites are identified this supposed motte and a lost moat siteGatehouse considers the Scoulton Moat as the slightly more tenable location for the licenced Mortimer House. It is, of course, possible the licenced house was a new build on a new site and both of these sites represent the location of succeeding manor houses. Equally the evidence that either is a manor house site is slight. There were also two manors in Scoulton both of which were of sufficient status to expect to have a moated manor house.There is an oval enclosure here but this doesn't appear to be much raised above ground level. The site is isolated from modern settlement, no evidence of medieval settlement but Scoulton does seem to be a parish of dispersed settlement, without any clear nucleus. Next to a brick kiln marked on 1891 map.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

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

358596

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF8808

OS Map Grid Reference	TF968026
Latitude	52.5856704711914
Longitude	0.904160022735596
Eastings	596840
Northings	302620