Haverhill Castle

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameHaverhill Castle
Alternative NamesNewt Pond
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishHaverhill

A poor moat with nothing but the name of a castle. (King)

The site of Haverhill Castle was on high ground, its south east scarp and ditch were preserved until recently, but now can only be traced by fencing and part of the ditch 12 ft deep containing water. Position occupied by Castle Farm (VCH). There are references to a 'castle' at Haverhill in 1373 and 1403, but an examination of the earthworks known as Haverhill 'Castle' indicate that it was a fortified manor-house and there is no sign of a mound. The moated area is oblong and much mutilated. (Dickinson) (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

The site now seems to be a large fishing pond with no remains of the earlier farmhouse, one arm of the moat shown on the 1886 may still survive but must be damaged. King saw the site after it had been seriously damaged and his dismissal of the site as a castle seems to be a dismissal of this site as a motte and bailey. It was clearly the site of a moated house of some status with a late medieval reference to it as a castle and many 'certain' castles are identified on less evidence.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL658457
Latitude52.0855484008789
Longitude0.418080002069473
Eastings565810
Northings245770
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
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 461 (reject)
  • Dickinson, P.G.M., 1956, The Little Guide of Suffolk p. 183
  • Wall, 1911, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Suffolk Vol. 1 p. 590 online copy
  • Barker, H.R., 1907, West Suffolk Illustrated p. 178-9

Journals

  • 1984, Journal of Haverhill and District Archaeological Group Vol. 3 p. 156