Wissington Grange Wood

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

NameWissington Grange Wood
Alternative NamesWiston Grange
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishNayland With Wissington

Martin records a possible ringwork, writing "The earthworks in Grange Wodd, Wissington may relate to the estate given by Hugh de Hosdene to Thetford Priory in the late C11" PastScape record this as "Sub rectangular enclosure of date or function visible as a well preserved earthwork. The earthwork consists of a rampart and outer ditch slightly mutilated in places, with two entrances, one on the east side and another on the west. A gap in the south side is probably modern. Extending for 50m to the north east lie a bank and ditch, which appear to be contemporary with the earthwork."

Subrectangular earthwork, internally 94m N-S, 80m E-W. Rampart and outer ditch, ditch destroyed on S side. Entrances E and W, probable gap in S. Location: S end of flat topped E-W ridge. Similar size bank and ditch run 50m NE from the NE corner. Possible moat? Within ancient woodland. (Suffolk HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Although now seemingly isolated this was a manorial centre in an area of rather dispersed settlement. Who was Hugh de Hordene and what was the reason for his granting this manor to Thetford Priory? Gatehouse suspects he was either a local knight who had no heirs and who, therefore is absent from the records or a member of the Horden's of Durham for whom this was a very peripheral manor, too far from the main holding to be worth holding onto. This does not explain why this site should be fortified?

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL948349
Latitude51.9786186218262
Longitude0.835969984531403
Eastings594860
Northings234940
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Martin, Edward, 1999 (3edn), 'Medieval Castles' in Dymond, David and Martin, Edward (eds) An Historical Atlas of Suffolk (Lavenham) p. 58-9, 199
  • Copinger, W.A., 1905, Manors of Suffolk Vol. 1 p. 252 (tenurial history) online copy