Rodbaston Old Hall

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameRodbaston Old Hall
Alternative NamesRembaudeston; Cannock Chase; Cannock Forest; Mott Place; Roundabout; Grimbaudeston
Historic CountryStaffordshire
Modern AuthorityStaffordshire
1974 AuthorityStaffordshire
Civil ParishPenkridge

Manorial moated site of Rodbaston Old Hall together with a dry fishpond and earthwork features to the N. The extant remains of the monument include a largely scrub and tree covered raised island c.73m square containing an internal bank around three sides that measures 2.4m max. height at the S corner. Surrounding the island is a waterlogged moat c.8m wide x 1.5m deep with a causeway on the SW arm. The island was originally double moated, although the outer moat has been infilled at an unspecified date. To the N of the moat is a dry fishpond measuring c.60m x 19m x 0.6m deep with traces of a similar rectangular earthwork to its SW. The manorial status of Rodbaston was linked to the hereditary forestership of Cannock. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Medieval moat (originally double but outer moat now infilled) and fishponds (probably two) of crenellated house built in 1330's, surviving as earthworks. Possible site of a fortified manor of hereditary forester of Cannock mentioned in 1154 and 1215. This is sometimes identified with the royal 'castle' of Cannock but nothing in the tenurial history would support this suggestion and the royal 'castle', a hunting lodge, was probably Castle Ring.

- Philip Davis

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 ReferenceSJ921123
Latitude52.7090301513672
Longitude-2.11790990829468
Eastings392130
Northings312380
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1997, Castles and Moated Mansions of Staffordshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 40
  • Salter, Mike, 1993, Midlands Castles (Birmingham) p. 65
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 452
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 303
  • Greenslade, M.W., 1967, in Greenslade, M.W. and Jenkins, J.G. (eds), VCH Staffordshire Vol. 2 p. 338- (for history of Cannock Forest and Foresters)
  • Greenslade, M.W. and Midgley, L.M., 1959 in Midgley, L.M. (ed), VCH Staffordshire Vol. 5 p. 120-2 - online transcription
  • Lynam, Charles, 1908, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm. (ed), VCH Staffordshire Vol. 1 p. 365 (homestead moat) online copy

Journals

  • 1983, Moated Sites Research Group report Vol. 10 p. 31
  • Larkham, P.J., 1982-3, Transactions of the South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 24 p. 15-46
  • Palliser, D.M., 1972, 'Staffordshire Castles: A Provisional List' Staffordshire Archaeology Vol. 1 p. 5-8
  • Cantor, Leonard, 1966, 'The Medieval Castles of Staffordshire' North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Vol. 6 p. 38-46
  • Brown, R. Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)
  • 1923, William Salt Archaeological Society Vol. 47 p. 29

Primary Sources

  • Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1835, Rotuli Litterarum Patentium in Turri Londinensi Asservati (1201-16) (Record Commission) p. 144 view online copy

Other

  • Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk West Midlands Register 2016 (London: Historic England) p. 33 online copy
  • Historic England, 2015, Heritage at Risk West Midlands Register 2015 (London: Historic England) p. 33 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 33 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2013, Heritage at Risk Register 2013 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 33 online copy