Ockley

Description

Pond Bay (alleged castle mound). Possibly a small castle of the De Clares, dismantled by Henry II. Identified by Aubrey in the 17th century as the moated mound of a castle. It is a pear-shaped enclosure, nearly 300 ft long, with the broader end to the east where there is an irregular-shaped mound with an extension thrown back at a right angle to face north. Outside this north-eastern angle is a platform with traces of an external ditch. The southern side is bounded by a stream in an artificially straightened ravine, and the eastern front may have been covered by an inundation. There are traces of a ditch on the northern side and in the angle where this joins the stream to the west are traces of a small mound. West of this angle are traces of an artificial bank, perhaps to make another inundation. (Surrey HER ref. VCH)

On the far side of the field north of Ockley Church, among some trees, is an earthwork. It was apparently a pear-shaped inclosure with the broader end to the east. The length is nearly 300 ft. At the eastern end is a broad mound with an extension thrown back at a right angle to face north. Outside this north-eastern angle is a ravelin or platform with traces of a ditch round it. The southern side is bounded by a stream in an artificially-straightened ravine. The eastern front may have been covered with an inundation. On the northern side only the traces of a ditch remain, but in the angle where this joins the stream, to the west, are traces of a small mound. West of this angle again are traces of an artificial bank, perhaps to make another inundation. Aubrey in the 17th century recognized the 'mole and mote' of a castle, and a small castle of the De Clares, built in Stephen's time and dismantled by Henry II, is not impossible. It is a likely spot, near a main road, which was then no doubt in use for its whole length. Aubrey has preserved a tradition, repeated and ridiculed by later writers, that there was a castle here destroyed by the Danes, who placed battering engines on Bury Hill. All who notice the story take Bury Hill to be Anstiebury Camp, 2 miles or more away. But where the road ascends from Ockley towards Dorking, just before the branch to Coldharbour goes off on the left, the hill was called Bury Hill. It is very much nearer, under half a mile away instead of over two, and although too far for a catapult to act, it is not an impossible camp for some force attacking a strong place near Ockley Church. Danes may be, of course, any enemy, described by that name from confusion of traditions. (VCH, 1911)

Possibly a small castle of the De Clares, built temp. Stephen and dismantled by Henry II - identified by Aubrey in the 17th C. as the moated mound of a castle. It is a pear-shaped enclosure, nearly 300 ft long, with the broader end to the east where there is an irregular-shaped mound with an extension thrown back at a right angle to face north. Outside this north-eastern angle is a platform with traces of an external ditch. The southern side is bounded by a stream in an artificially straightened ravine, and the eastern front may have been covered by an inundation (VCH). There are traces of a ditch on the northern side and in the angle where this joins the stream to the west are traces of a small mound. West of this angle are traces of an artificial bank, perhaps to make another inundation. It is not possible entirely to relate Malden's description to this earthwork which is a small pond-bay, now breached; but it is almost certainly the work in question and nothing comparable was found nearby. A sub-triangular (? pear-shaped) work to the North is mainly natural, comprising the end of a spur between two valleys cut by (i) the over-flow channel from the pond and (ii) the quarry which provided the earth for the dam (F1 ASP 19-NOV-65). (PastScape)

David King called this a 'possible' motte. This was a term he used sites about which he had doubts.

The location, near to a later manor house and church (the village seems to have migrated west towards the main road), is not unusual for a motte and it may be the earthworks seen by Aubrey and Malden were damaged before being inspected in 1965. However, the evidence for a motte castle here is weak.