Monument record 5477/1 - Moor End Castle

Earthwork remains of a medieval moat and fishponds. There are no structural remains of the castle, although remains were dug up in 1852. A licence to crenellate was issued in 1347, and in 1363 Edward III obtained the castle. Between 1363 and 1369 much building was done. A royal chamber, a chapel, and other buildings and repair of several towers, the wall, the old chamber, and inner and outer gates, are recorded. It was in royal hands during the 15th century, but its subsequent history is uncertain. The moated site survives as an island surrounded by a water-filled ditch between 17 metres and 25 metres wide on the south west, north west and north east and by a large pond 50 metres by 90 metres on the south east. A dry ditch 8 metres wide and up to 1 metre deep to the north east of the moat appears to be a former leat which carried water round the site, possibly to a mill at its south east end.

{3} Moat (SP 754446) usually known as Moor End Castle, lies W of Yardley village, within the hamlet of Moor End, in the bottom of a valley draining S, on clay at 92 m. above OD. The origins of the site are obscure but in 1327 Thomas de Ferrers was granted a licence to crenellate his dwelling place of La Morende. In 1363 the manor passed to the Crown and between then and 1369 much building work is recorded, including a royal chamber, a chapel, towers, an old chamber and inner and outer gates. Almost £1,000 was spent on repairs. It remained in royal hands during the C15th but its subsequent history is uncertain. Some years before 1852 foundations of Moor End Castle were dug up for the stone. The walls were very thick and formed a rectangular structure with towers at each angle. "Roman" tiles were observed on site.
The site has been much altered, particularly in recent years, and now consists of a sub-rectangular island, completely overgrown, with no visible surface features. The island is surrounded by a water-filled ditch between 17 m. and 25 m. wide on the SW, NW and NE and by a large pond 50 m. by 90 m. on the SE. The latter may be a relatively recent widening of the ditch on this side. A small rectangular pond 40 m. by 25 m., much altered in recent times, lies to the NW of the site, and on air photographs taken in 1947 two other smaller rectangular ponds are shown between it and the moat. These have now been destroyed.
A dry ditch 8 m. wide and up to 1 m. deep to the NE of the moat appears to be a former leat which carried water round the site, possibly to a mill at its SE end. The field on the SW side of the moat, in which stands the present Castle Barn, was known as Castle Yard in 1728. In its SE corner are at least two building platforms lying at the S ends of two rectangular closes (SP 74 SE 51).

{4} The history of the castle at Moor End is obscure before it came into royal hands. A licence to crenellate was issued in 1347, and in 1363 Edward III obtained it. Between 1363 and 1369 much building was done. A royal chamber, a chapel, and other buildings and repair of several towers, the wall, the old chamber, and inner and outer gates, are recorded. It was in royal hands during the 15th c, but its subsequent history is uncertain.

{5} (SP 75444462) Castle (LB) (Site of) (Large moated site with outer ditch on N side)

{7} The site has been recently altered to form a pond and the island is covered with dense vegetation. No foundations are visible.

{8} This monument is known to have been the site of Moor End Castle, which belonged to Edward III. Between 1363 and 1369 the king spent almost a thousand pounds on the repair and improvement of the castle and lived there for part of his reign. Also, in the ath century, the castle was held be various members of the royal famiy.
The moat ditches are completely waterfilled and are fed by a stream which runs from north to
south of the east arm. A causeway, now submerged, runs from the centre of the west arm of the moat
to the island and indicates the original entrance to the moat island. In the west ditch of the moat a
covered drain running southwards functioned as an overflow from the nearby fishpond. Remains of a
dam and sluice situated at the southern end of the east arm of the moat assisted the maintenance of
water levels within the moated system. The moat island is 50m square and is planted with conifers.

{10} Some years before 1852 the foundations of the castle were dug up for stone. The walls were very thick, and the rectangular building they formed had towers at each angle. "Roman" tiles were observed on the site.

{11} The remains of the moat have been slightly altered to form a duck pond. The moat island is covered with dense vegetation and no foundation remains were seen. The fishpond to the north has been recut and is now a trout pond. Surveyed on field document.

{14} Some years before 1852 the foundations of the castle were dug up for stone. The walls were very thick, and the rectangular building they formed had towers at each angle. "Roman" tiles were observed on the site.

<1> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<2> WARREN D., 1964, The Hamlet and Castle of Moor End in Yardley Gobion, p.7-12 (unchecked) (Article). SNN20537.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.175 site3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1963, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.II), p.743 (unchecked) (Series). SNN3801.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1958, OS 6 Inch Mapping Series, SP74SE (unchecked) (Map). SNN20539.

<6> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.108 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP74SE14 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<8> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, SAM NN136614 (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<9> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006, (unchecked) (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<10> PRETTY E., 1852, On The Discovery of Roman Remains Near Towcester, p. 111 (Article). SNN13368.

<11> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, 27/Oct (Note). SNN111452.

<12> 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. 319 (Book). SNN112899.

<13> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 5243-4 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<14> 1843/1852, Journal of The British Archaeological Association (Vol.7), p.111 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN21523.

<15> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.229 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<15> HANNAN A., 1976, Letter re. works to scheduled site, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN57309.

<16> Taylor P., 1992, Fishponds Report 1992, (checked) (Report). SNN1339.

Record last edited

Feb 22 2024 12:31PM