Monument record 4162 - Top and Bottom Moats, south-east of Rockingham Castle

Two ditches at Rockingham Castle. These are shown on a map of 1615 as a continuous feature. Their function is unclear, although one has since been widened to form a pond. They have previously been interpreted as a moat

{1} 'Moats' (SP 870909 and 871910), lie 450 m. SE of the castle, on the edge of the present park, on Boulder Clay at 130 m. above OD. On a map of 1615 these features, which are now separated by the modern drive to the castle, are shown joined together. The earthwork known as the Bottom Moat lies NE of the drive and consists of a sub-rectangular area completely surrounded by a water-filled ditch some 2 m. deep. To the SW the so-called Top Moat is no more than a long ditch which widens to form a pond near its NE end. No date or function can be assigned to these features.

{2} Bottom Moat- A rectangular water-filled moat 85m x 35m (erroneously calls it Top Moat). Purpose is obscure, but with the other moat runs across the neck of the promontory on which the castle stands so could have had some modest defensive function. Was certainly in existence in 1615, when shown joined with body of water to the west.

Top Moat- A wet ditch 10m wide x 200m long (erroneously calls it Bottom Moat). Purpose is obscure, but with the other moat runs across the neck of the promontory on which the castle stands so could have had some modest defensive function. Was certainly in existence in 1615, when shown joined with body of water to the west.

{3} Top Moat is a small rectangular moat with four complete and waterfilled arms. Located 450m to the south-east of Rockingam Castle. Considered to be medieval in date and originally part of the castle defences. Long ditch widens to form a pond at its north-east end; was originally joined to Bottom Moat; considered to be medieval in origin & part of the castle.

{6} The Top and Bottom Moats lie just beyond the edge of the township, to the south of the castle, within Rockinghamshire, a large area of former common land within the forest. Their function is uncertain. Other ponds lie to the north west of the castle, in the bottom of the combe and although in their present form they are part of the later landscape gardening, it is possible that medieval ponds existed in the area, although no records of medieval ponds have been located.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.126/Site 5 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> BROWN A.E.; TAYLOR C.C., 1974, The Earthworks of Rockingham and its Neighbourhood, p.71 (checked) (Article). SNN40063.

<3> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<4> 1615, map of Rockingham, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56827.

<5> Eagle J., 1806, Map of The Estates of The Right Honourable Lewis Richard, Lord Sondes at Rockingham, Cottingham, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100475.

<6> FOARD G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rockingham (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100473.

<7> HYLTON T.; MASTERS P., 1998, Empingham to Hannington Anglian Water Pipeline, Northamptonshire Section, Archaeological Evaluation: Stage 1, (unchecked) (Report). SNN63049.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 7:20PM