Seagrave Manor

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Other/Unknown), and also as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameSeagrave Manor
Alternative Names
Historic CountryLeicestershire
Modern AuthorityLeicestershire
1974 AuthorityLeicestershire
Civil ParishSeagrave

Stephen de Segrave, in the early C13 purchased land at Seagrave and built a Manor house there. (Nichols) "Extensive entrenchments defend a manorial site in this village. On the N is a low vallum and a fosse 4' 9" deep and 9' wide. At the turn of the NE corner and on the E side facing the Fosse Way is a double vallum and double fosse. The outer is 4' deep and 16' wide, the inner 9' deep and 22' wide, but the ramparts have been almost destroyed. At the E the works turn at an obtuse angle and the fosse becomes 11' deep". (VCH). The Manor house of probably stood on or near the site now occupied by the Hall Farm, the occupier of which told of a farmyard cave-in in the mid. C19 which revealed what might have been a cellar with shackles attached to the walls. The earthworks are a complex of three fishponds, with remains of an adjacent enclosure ditch, the centre pond containing a spring at its western extremity. The bank running N - S from SK 6217 1733 - SK 6217 1724 was, according to the owner, removed c.1936 and used in the construction of the dual carriageway on Foss Way to the east. (Field Investigators Comments-F1 BHS 25-JAN-61). (PastScape)

Earthworks, probably representing the medieval hall mentioned in the early C13th. Slate and tile found in the area are probably from this building. The manor house was burned down by Siward in 1232 during a revolt led by Richard Marshal. (Leicestershire and Rutland HER)

Gatehouse Comments

King writes that this is a 'possible' castle site - He tended to use this term for sites he had significant doubts about. In the VCH as an 'inclosure with stronger defensive works'. Clearly a high status site and, when built, probably decorated with martial symbolism such as crenellations but no evidence that this was anything more than a moated manor house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK620173
Latitude52.7504806518555
Longitude-1.08145999908447
Eastings462000
Northings317350
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Hartley, R. F., 1989, The Mediaeval Earthworks of Central Leicestershire, A survey (Leicester) p. 11, 19
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 256 (possible)
  • Wall, C., 1907, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm, (ed), VCH Leicestershire Vol. 1 p. 270 online copy
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 1 p. 418 online copy
  • Nichols, J., 1800, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicestershire Vol. 3.1 p. 408 online copy