Castlefacts³

Marholm Rampart

Has been described as a Questionable Urban Defence

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

Name	Marholm Rampart
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Northamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough
Modern Authority	Peterborough; City of
1974 Authority	Cambridgeshire
Civil Parish	Marholm

There are village earthworks to the west of Marholm and manorial rampart around the present Manor Farm (Manor House: TF 146022) (CBA Group 7 newsletter 1977).

Nothing of archaeological significance visible on RAF air photographs except extensive areas of ridge and furrow (AP). (PastScape)

Kempsey is a rare example of an enclosed medieval village village without a castle, and Marholm another possible candidate. (Creighton and Higham)

Gatehouse Comments

Village earthworks described as possible rampart. Quite why these villagers would go to the bother of building defensive ramparts when the sanctuary of Peterborough Abbey was 10 minutes away is unclear and the assessment of these earthworks as defensive seems dubious. The PastScape record suggests this is a manorial rather than village feature and the rampart is functioning in the same way as a moat to demarcate the high status house of the manor and this is not a village defence.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

350385

County Historic Environment Record

www.peterborough.gov.uk/environment/archaeology/historic_environment_record.aspx

OS Map Grid Reference	TF146022
Latitude	52.6055107116699
Longitude	-0.309150010347366
Eastings	514600
Northings	302200