Knaptoft 'camp' and Hall

Has been described as a Rejected Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameKnaptoft 'camp' and Hall
Alternative Names
Historic CountryLeicestershire
Modern AuthorityLeicestershire
1974 AuthorityLeicestershire
Civil ParishKnaptoft

VCH records this site as a 'moated inclosure with stronger defensive works.'

On high ground north-east of Knaptoft House are fragments of early entrenchments which have been broken for the arrangements of mediaeval life. To the south of the hall is a rectangular area moated and embanked, the latter 11ft. on the scarp, the moat being fed by a stream flowing by the north-east. The western bank descends into a large fishpond by a 23ft. scarp. A cist was found here, and from a plan in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1787, the earthworks were then in a far more perfect state. (VCH)

The 'earthworks' are a series of banks and ditches now reduced by ploughing. A number of enclosures formed by these banks and ditches are not shown by the OS and some are not visible on the APs. The features are of relatively weak profile and formed the boundaries of small fields probably destroyed at the time of the enclosure. No evidence of 'early entrenchments' was seen and the surviving remnants are of little or no archaeological significance. (PastScape–Field Investigators Comments-F1 WW 08-JUL-60)

Gatehouse Comments

The PastScape record suggest the VCH has confused this site with the earthwork of the DMV of Knaptoft. There was clearly a high status medieval house at Knaptoft, possibly held by the Knights Hospitallers of St John, as fishponds survive. This was at the site of Knaptoft Hall (SP62698958 - PastScape No. 342136) and there is little, beyond the status of the holders and a reference in Nichols to a circular tower, to suggest it was fortified. It would seem most unlikely the recorded 'camp' was a medieval fortification of any type.

- 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 ReferenceSP620894
Latitude52.5001106262207
Longitude-1.08689999580383
Eastings462060
Northings289470
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Bennett, J.D., 1971, Vanished houses of Leicestershire
  • Cooke, J.G., 1958, The Lost Village of Knaptoft
  • Wall, C., 1907, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm, (ed), VCH Leicestershire Vol. 1 p. 252, 269, 273 online copy
  • Nichols, J., 1807, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicestershire Vol. 2.1 p. 217-21

Journals

  • 1787 Dec., The Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 62 p. 656-7, 958, 1059-60 online copy