Castlefacts³

Longnor mound

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Longnor mound
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Shropshire
Modern Authority	Shropshire
1974 Authority	Shropshire
Civil Parish	Longnor

Moat marked on OS map by Chitty.

A small oval shaped mound c6m in diameter and up to 1.8m high. There is a ditch on the N side and slight traces of one on the east side. Unclear as to whether or not this is an antiquity-It could be a landscaping feature. It is certainly not a moated site as suggested by Chitty. It is most closely akin to a motte in form and also in its defensive siting and proximity to the church (Watson Michael D. 1981-Mar-24)

Site of the Manor House of Longnor? (Barker 1959)

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 43 Motte castles.

A roughly circular earthen mound about 11m in diameter and standing to a height of 1.5m situated on a gentle north west facing slope occupying a slightly elevated position above the flood plain of the Cound Brook. The western part of the mound is degraded, there is modern disturbance to the eastern part, and from a depression in the top it would appear that the mound has been dug into at some time in the past. There is no visible indication of an encircling ditch. The mound lies within the deer park of Longnor Hall, a late 17th century mansion, and close to St Mary's Church, built in the late 13th century. The function of this mound is not certain. However, its size would suggest it is unlikely to have been constructed as a motte (Reid 1999).

Gatehouse Comments

The mound was known to Lily Chitty who did write about mottes but does not seem to have been identified as a motte by her. Whatever this is it seems a slight feature and given how well the county has been surveyed must have slight for some time. The location is possible for manorial centre of Longnor and might be a precursor to Longnor Hall. The early social status of the tenant of Longnor was not great although the manor did become more important. Could be a 'knight's fee' motte of a sort usually found rather deeper in the marches, equally could be a park feature (a mound for viewing hunting?; a tree stand?). The comment that its sizes makes it unlikely as a motte would be probably true in most of the country but in this area there are a number of mounds of this size that are called mottes. However, on balance, Gatehouse is of the opinion this mound is not a motte and not the site of a residence.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

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

67761

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSA13390&resourceID=1015

OS Map Grid Reference	SJ487003
Latitude	52.5981407165527
Longitude	-2.75731992721558
Eastings	348700
Northings	300300