Sternfield

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NameSternfield
Alternative NamesSternefeld
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishSternfield

Licence to crenellate granted to Sir Michael de la Pole in 1385. Coulson states nothing constructed on the bases of this licence.

Gatehouse Comments

Licenced with Wingfield and Huntingfield, which did result in building work (certainly at Wingfield, possibly at Huntingfield), but lack of evidence, de la Pole fall from grace the next year, and the possibility of over extended funds does suggest that nothing was built here. There were two medieval manors in the parish, Mandeville's Manor and Virlies or Glanville's manor. Copinger suggests that the licence was applied to Virlies manor, which seems to be the smaller manor so perhaps the trapzoid moat is the site. Sternfield Hall, at TM39056135, has a wing of late C16 date and is probably the site of the one medieval manor house. A cropmark of a low lying trapzoid moat is recorded in the Suffolk HER in square TM3915 but not more precisely located and this may well be the Virlies Manor House site. Is is possible the trapizoidal moat was laid out by de la Pole and started but not finished leaving just a faint hint? Given map reference for parish church. Information on a more precise location of Virlies Manor would be most welcome.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTM390615
Latitude52.2128295898438
Longitude1.49555003643036
Eastings639000
Northings261500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) (Shown on map of fortified houses of East Anglia)
  • Copinger, W.A., 1909, Manors of Suffolk Vol. 5 p. 170-1 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 419 online copy

Journals

  • Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol. 38 p. 111

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1897, Calendar of Patent Rolls Richard II (1381-85) Vol. 2 p. 555 online copy