Monument record 3777/2 - Barton Seagrave Castle, Barton Seagrave Manor, Barton Hanred

Earthworks of two medieval moated enclosures and fishponds. One has been identified as the site of a castle or manor house, while the other contains the remains of possible stone pits dug at a later date.

{1} The site is often termed a 'castle' but the remains suggest that there was never much more than two simple moated enclosures, one of which contained a manor house. There is however a record of Nicholas de Seagrave obtaining licence to crenellate in the early C14th. The site appears to be that of the manor of Barton Hanred, one of two manors in Barton Seagrave, which is last recorded as inhabited in 1433.

{2,4} Nicholas de Segrave obtained licence to make a castle of his manor house at Barton in 4th.Edw.II.

The remaining earthworks consist of two disconnected enclosures having no common outworks. There are no traces of stonework. The pond between the enclosure has not the appearance of forming part of the original plan and the enclosures may be of different dates.

{7} Licence to crenellate was granted by Edward II in 'mansum' .

{8}{9} Nicholas de Segrave obtained a licence to crenellate his dwelling house at barton in Edward 1's reign and the site is referred to as a castle in the time of John de Segrave.
West of Barton Seagrave Church are two rectangular, moated areas, of which the more southerly appears to be the site of the Castle.

{5, 10} The northerly work is essentially a square, now dry, moat, linked to a broad marshy ditch, which runs along the north side. The central island is taken up by 3 rectangular hollows, probably a building site.

On the outer, NE, corner is a low earthen mound. The southern moat is an irregular rectangle, partially dry and much mutilated. The large central island shows considerable disturbance, quite formless and without stone content yet the most likely site for the Castle or Manor House.

The two features are linked by a narrow, now dry, Ditch, and two, marshy, fishponds, one isolated, the other joining the southern moat; complete this most complex site. Resurveyed at 1/1250.

{11} Published surveys (latest 1969), revised.

{12} The fishponds appear to be used for fish breeding within the moated area.

{13} The southern moat was clearly constructed to hold water. The more northern moat is on the same alignment and consists of a square platform again with the intention of holding water. Excavation has suggested that the supposed fish breeding ponds are stone pits cut a later date.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.103-105 site 14 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.414 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.176-78 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.217 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<5> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.98-99 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<6> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<7> Parker, Domestic Architecture in England, Part 2/p.406 (unchecked) (Book). SNN56159.

<8> Council for British Archaeology, 1976, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (34), 6/23 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN104928.

<9> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), 4/25-26 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<10> Harper, FR, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 FRH 14-AUG-62 (Note). SNN112963.

<11> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 12-NOV-69 (Notes). SNN111907.

<12> ABERG F.A., 1978, Medieval Moated Sites, no. 17, p. 8 (Report). SNN64899.

<13> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<14> Cathcart King, D J, 1983, Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands, p. 315 (Book). SNN112899.

<15> Council for British Archaeology, 1976, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (34) (Newsletter). SNN104928.

<16> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1925, 1238-9, 4350-2) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<17> Undated, ?CASTLE (SITE), BB76/02111 (Archive). SNN113588.

<18> Undated, MOUND (SITE OF CASTLE?), FISHPOND AND MOATS), P10631 (Archive). SNN113589.

Record last edited

Jun 14 2022 1:39PM