Little Hereford Manor

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameLittle Hereford Manor
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishLittle Hereford

Earthworks next to Little Hereford Church. There is controversy as to whether the earthworks is a castle or a DMV. The archaeology section of the Woolhope Club describe a possible small motte alongside the church together with a small inner bailey by the foorbridge over the river Teme. Historians believe this to be the site of King Stephens army camp of 1139-40. (HAN, 1997) Reference to the remains of a motte and bailey surrounded by banks of triangular earthworks in an article about the settlement to the north of the River Teme in the parish of Little Hereford. A triangular earthwork surrounds the site which has a number of explanations including that it was part of the De La Mare castle fee and later a house site, a former village site or erected by the army of King Stephen. The author feels that the latter is the most likely as there is little evidence of house platforms and the earthworks are too extensive for a minor castle fee. (Skelton). (Herefordshire SMR 33648)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO554679
Latitude52.3079414367676
Longitude-2.65569996833801
Eastings355400
Northings267900
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 200-1
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 47
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 12
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 213 (possible)
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 10
  • RCHME, 1934, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 3: north-west p. xxix (plan), 66 no. 2 online transcription
  • Robinson, C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint)

Journals

  • Skelton, Rosamund E., 2001, 'Dispersed or nucleated? Settlement in the parish of Little Hereford North of the River Teme 1086 - 1845' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 50.2 p. 144-160
  • 1997, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 68 p. 42-3
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124 (possible)