Moccas Castle

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

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameMoccas Castle
Alternative NamesMockes
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishMoccas

Earthworks of the castle were visible during the early C20. These comprised two baileys and a small motte. Field investigations carried out in 1971 found most of the earthworks to be ploughed out. It is known that a licence was granted in 1293 for a structure without towers, to be less than ten feet in height below the crenellations, indicating that the site was not strongly defended. The earthwork remains of the motte and part of the bailey to the south-west were mapped from aerial photographs. (PastScape)

Moccas Castle consists of a roughly oval court enclosed by remains of a ditch with subsidiary scarp within area. At E end is v small motte with ditch between it & bailey (RCHME). Ploughed out, leaving only small natural knoll (OS 1971). An early motte and bailey castle, roughly oval bailey has been formed by scarping a low hillock, strengthened by a ditch remains of which are prominent on the south, where there is a secondary scarp. On slope of scarp at E end there is a very small motte, summit 8' x 12'. Ditch between it and the bailey, seems unlikely that any part of castle constructed in masonry.... (Kay, R., 1953, SMR file) 1291: Hugh de Frene obtained charter of freewarren, & 3 yrs later licence to fortify to strengthen it with" stone wall without turret or tower & not exceeding 10' in height below the battlements" de Frenes held till 1375. Foundations can be traced...long formed quarry for road metalling, moat, partially drained is now only a swampy circle... Silas Taylor Harl MS 6726 describes site of modern house (8995) (Robinson) No sign of castle, no earthwork visible with exception of significant field boundary on north. The knoll is a natural feature. (Herefordshire SMR)

Gatehouse Comments

The licence of 1293 was probably a rebuilding of an early motte and bailey. The complete loss of the site is suggestive of the weakness of the earthworks of the castle. How 'defensive' this house was ever intended to be is an open question but clearly the adjacent deer park was the real focus of the home, family and estate.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO348425
Latitude52.0765419006348
Longitude-2.95116996765137
Eastings334800
Northings242500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 224-5
  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) p. 249-50 Download from ADS
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 476
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 52
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 14
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 209
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 41
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 262
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. xxxvi, 204-5 No. 2 (plan) online transcription
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 254 (plan)
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 113 online copy
  • Robinson, C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint)
  • Robinson, C.J., 1869, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (London: Longman) p. 106-8online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 403 online copy

Journals

  • Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol. 38 p. 125n119
  • 1991, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 55 p. 21 (plan)
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124 (Late–attributed to origin in C12 but regarded as later)

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward I (1292-1301) Vol. 3 p. 23 online copy