Garthorpe Motte

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are uncertain remains

NameGarthorpe Motte
Alternative Names
Historic CountryLeicestershire
Modern AuthorityLeicestershire
1974 AuthorityLeicestershire
Civil ParishGarthorpe

A castle was situated near the water mill at Garthorpe, and in C18 the close was still known as "Castle Close". (There is a mill at SK 835209 but there is no evidence of the site of a castle on RAF APs of 1954) (PastScape–ref. Nichols)

There is indeed evidence to support Nichol's statement that a castle stood next to the watermill. An impressive motte still stands 4 - 5 metres high adjacent to a water course for the mill. (McWhirr and Winter)

A motte is said to have been identified here, next to the water-mill, at c. SK835209; (McWhirr and Winter). This is a shapeless mound and appears to be part of the extensive earthworks connected with the mill. (King 1983)

Gatehouse Comments

Creighton suggests may be motte close to watermill. The position would be similar to many mottes, close to a church and a river crossing, but the maintenance of watermills can involve dredging ponds and making spoil heaps or making earthworks which flooding can erode into unusual forms. The dismissal by as experienced a castellologist as King (and some other field archaeologists) needs serious consideration on the otherhand the history given by Nichols, which is C18 but scholarly, is highly suggestive.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK835209
Latitude52.7794609069824
Longitude-0.763100028038025
Eastings483500
Northings320900
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Knox, Richard, 2015, 'The medieval fortified sites of Leicestershire and Rutland' in Medieval Leicestershire: Recent research on the Medieval Archaeology of Leicester (Liecestershire Fieldworks 3) p. 123-42
  • Hartley, R.F., 1987, The Medieval Earthworks of North-East Leicestershire (Leicester: Leicestershire Museums, Art Galleries and Records Service) p. 9, 31
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. lxvi (reject)
  • Nichols, J., 1795, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicestershire Vol. 2 p. 186, 190 online copy

Journals

  • Creighton, O.H., 1997, 'Early Leicestershire Castles: Archaeology and Landscape History' Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 71 p. 29 online copy
  • McWhirr, A.D. and Winter, M.J., 1978-79, 'Medieval Castles Additional Information' Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 54 p. 74-75 online copy
  • Cantor, Leonard, 1977-8, 'The Medieval Castles of Leicestershire' Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 53 p. 38 online copy

Other

  • Creighton, O.H., 1998, Castles and Landscapes: An Archaeological Survey of Yorkshire and the East Midlands (PhD Thesis University of Leicester) p. 295, 288-9384 online copy