Harlescott Grange

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameHarlescott Grange
Alternative Names
Historic CountryShropshire
Modern AuthorityShropshire
1974 AuthorityShropshire
Civil ParishShrewsbury

Despite its modification following the construction of the surrounding housing estate, Harlescott Grange moated site is a good example of this class of monument. The remains of buildings and associated deposits are expected to survive as buried features. These remains, together with the artefacts and organic remains existing in the moat, will provide valuable evidence about the occupation and social status of the inhabitants. Organic remains surviving in the buried ground surface under the raised interior and within the moat will also provide information about the changes to the local environment and the use of the land before and after the moated site was constructed. The monument is a valuable local amenity as it used as a recreation area.

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval moated site, situated on a gentle north east facing slope. It is now surrounded by a modern housing estate, but from this location there would originally have been extensive views of the surrounding area. The moat is now visible as a slight earthwork having been drained in 1950 and largely infilled following the construction of the housing estate. The arms of the moat, which survive as buried features, are between 12m and 15m wide and define a rectangular island approximately 40m by 46m. Material excavated from the moat has been used to raise the surface of the island between 1.2m and 2m above the level of the surrounding ground. An account of the site in 1937 indicated that the sides of the moat were lined with masonry and when the moat was drained, 13th century pottery was found. Sherds of medieval pottery were also found when a small-scale archaeological excavation was conducted in 1960. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Moated house, a grange of Shrewsbury Abbey. Unlikely to be fortified beyond the moat.

- 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 ReferenceSJ501160
Latitude52.7394981384277
Longitude-2.73992991447449
Eastings350140
Northings316020
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

  • Salter, Mike, 2001 (2edn), The Castles and Moated Mansions of Shropshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 43
  • Wall (after Downham), 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Shropshire Vol. 1 p. 404
  • Blakeway, J.B., History of the Habitations of Shrewsbury p. 267

Journals

  • 1980, Moated Sites Research Group report Vol. 7 p. 52
  • 1961-67, Transactions of the Caradoc and Severn Field Club p. 58
  • Barker, P.A., 1960, 'Harlecott Grange moated site, Shrewsbury' Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 56 p. 348-9
  • 1937-8, 'Annual Excursion, 1937' Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 49 p. 7

Other

  • Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, 1986, Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 26553