Stebbing; The Mount

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameStebbing; The Mount
Alternative Names
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityEssex
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishStebbing

Mount and moat, 750yds north west of the church. Circular mount, 225ft in diameter at the base, 51ft at the summit, 44ft high. Wet ditch surrounding, varying in width, crossed by a narrow causeway on the west side. In good condition, tree-covered. Moat in fair condition, average depth 1.5m.. No obvious traces of buildings or sign of building foundations on the motte. Sited on a prominent west facing spur, 70m in diameter overall, tree planted and partly landscaped. Spiral footpath ascends to the flat top where a gazebo and ice-house stand. It is c11m above the surrounding waterfilled (spring fed?) ditch, partly recut and revetted. No trace of a bailey though a possibly contemporary fish pond lies to the south at TL 65842430. Overall the latter is 60m x 45m, is dry, c1.5m deep. The stream bisects it. Moat is 6-10m wide. Manor held in demesne by Henry de Ferrers (2 hides, 30 acres) and Ranulf Peverel (3 hides, 30 acres). Ralf, Earl of Chester, fled at the latter part of Stephen's reign, leaving his estates in the king's hands. (Unlocking Essex's Past)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL658243
Latitude51.8932991027832
Longitude0.407999992370605
Eastings565800
Northings224390
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Neville, David, 2003, Lost Castles of Essex (Ian Henry) p. 88-9
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 41
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 147
  • RCHME, 1916, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex Vol. 1 (north-west) p. 283 no. 3 online transcription
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Gould, Chalkley, 1903, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol. 1 p. 302-3 online copy
  • 'a Gentleman', 1769, History of Essex (reporting two mounds)

Journals

  • King, D.J.Cathcart, 1972, 'The Field Archaeology of mottes; Eine kurze übersicht' Château Gaillard Vol. 5 p. 101-112