Thunderfield Castle, Horley

Description

Thunderfield Castle, a Ring and Bailey castle generally well preserved, though the entire site is over grown with trees and undergrowth. Thunderfield Castle is thought to be an early C12 foundation and was of timber construction there being no traces of masonry. It was a ring type castle abandoned early probably due to flooding of the ditches by the River Mole. The barbican, of later date than the castle, is of a higher level and can be mistaken for a motte. The ditches were originally dry, an outer ditch, dug early in C13 formed a small outer bailey beyond the barbican. Excavations in the centre area by Hart and Winbolt in 1936, uncovered the hearth of a bloomery, and C13, C14 and C15 pottery was found nearby. No trace of buildings was found. The castle may have been erected by Gilbert de Clare (died 1132). (SHHER)

Thunderfield, with its diversity of component parts including a double circuit of moats, is one of a very small number of complex moated sites in the South East. The large expanses of undeveloped land within the moats makes the monument of high archaeological potential, especially in the light of the small scale excavations which have demonstrated that archaeological remains do survive in the interior. In addition, historical research has revealed a considerable quantity of information on the former importance of the manor centred here. Thunderfield Castle, a name applied to the monument only since the 17th century, is the site of a medieval moated manor house. The original manor name of Herewoldsle or Harrowsley is preserved in many of the local placenames. The monument includes a central rectangular moat island 55m by 40m, a moat 7-8m across with a semi-circular extension on the northern side, an intermediate bank of earth up to 1.2m high and 8m wide, and an outer moat averaging 6m across. Small-scale excavation in 1936 confirmed the occupation of the site during the 13th-15th centuries. At Thunderfield, the central island is likely to have provided the site for the main house, while ancillary structures such as stables, storehouses etc are likely to have stood nearby. The semi-circular extension to the inner moat is best seen as marking the site of a gatehouse and original approach to the island. The outer moat appears to have been stream-fed from the south, unlike the inner moat which was spring-fed. An overflow channel, now infilled, carried water from the inner moat at its north-west corner. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

May have been the site of a manor court recorded in the early C13 as 'Herewoldeslea' (Haroldslea) (Information from Peter Cox who references documents in the British Library (ADD Charters 5932 & 7599))