Castlefacts³

Owston Grange

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

Name	Owston Grange
Alternative Names	Oliver Cromwell's Castle
Historic Country	Leicestershire
Modern Authority	Leicestershire
1974 Authority	Leicestershire
Civil Parish	Owston and Newbold

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

In a field to the north of the road from Owston to Knossington is a large dry moat surmounted by a bank. (VCH)

This site is known locally as 'Oliver Cromwell's Castle'. It comprises a large sub-rectangular moat and an associated enclosure to the south. The moat measures 110m x 125m. The surrounding ditch is water-filled, 12m - 15m wide, and up to 3.0m deep at the south-east corner. An inturned corner of the moat on the north-west has an extra arm which projects into the island for a distance of 20m. An inner bank is identifiable on the south and east sides of the island. Attached to the south side of the moat is a large enclosure defined partly by a ditch 6m wide and 1m deep which runs the width of the field 60m to the south. This may have been a moated grange farm belonging to Owston Abbey. (PastScape–scheduling report)

Gatehouse Comments

The high status of the grange owners probably accounts for the moats, and possibly other defensive features (although the gatehouse suggested by Bott is said to be problematic in PastScape) but this was an isolated site, some distance from settlement and thus, possibly, rather more vulnerable to gangs of thieves.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

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

321125

County Historic Environment Record

www.leicestershire.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/history-and-heritage/historic-environment-record

OS Map Grid Reference	SK787081
Latitude	52.665958404541
Longitude	-0.836510002613068
Eastings	478790
Northings	308190