Gentlemans Folley, West Lavington

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameGentlemans Folley, West Lavington
Alternative NamesLittleton Pannell
Historic CountryWiltshire
Modern AuthorityWiltshire
1974 AuthorityWiltshire
Civil ParishWest Lavington

(ST 999 25399) Mound shown but not described (OS map 1961).

"Gentleman's Folly" mound, seen September 1949.

This is a large mound, some 5.0m high, in the garden of Littleton House. It is tree planted and is probably, as its name suggests, an ornamental feature (F1 JP 31-OCT-68).

Perhaps only a garden feature; otherwise a motte (King 1983). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

King called this a 'possible' motte. He used the term 'possible' for sites for which he had considerable doubt. Creighton rejects this as a gazebo. However it is just possible, although unlikely, that it may mark the manor of Littleton Pannell, which was held for a knight's fee in 1219.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceST999539
Latitude51.2850494384766
Longitude-2.0025200843811
Eastings399920
Northings153990
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 502 (possible)
  • Pugh, R.B. and Crittall, E. (eds), 1953, VCH Wiltshire Vol. 7 p. 198- (tenurial history) online transcription

Journals

  • Creighton, O.H., 2000, 'Early Castles in the Medieval Landscape of Wiltshire' Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine Vol. 93 p. 115 (reject) online copy