Whichford Castle

Description

Earthwork and buried remains of a moated site believed to have been built by Reginald Mohun in the early C13. By the mid C14 the estate passed to the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, who held it for approximately 200 years. It was during this latter period that the moated site is thought to have fallen into disrepair and was abandoned. The moated site is roughly square in plan with external dimensions of approximately 100m by 90m. Moat ditches are dry, with the exception of part of the west arm, and some 4.6m wide. There are intermittent traces of an inner bank around the perimeter of the moated island which itself retains evidence of slight earthworks. An excavation in the western half of the island in the early 1950s uncovered the foundations of stone buildings, believed to date from the early C13, and fragments of painted glass, fine quality pottery and stone-lined drains. The remains of a curtain wall of large ironstone blocks was also located along the inner edge of the moat ditch. (PastScape)

The moated site 230m west of St Michael's Church survives well and is unencumbered by modern development. Part excavation and earthwork evidence have indicated that the structures which originally occupied the moated island will survive beneath the ground surface, whilst the moat ditches, particularly the water-filled west arm, will retain both artefactual and environmental information relating to the occupation of the site and the economy of its inhabitants.
The monument is situated on the western outskirts of Whichford village and includes the earthwork and buried remains of a moated site believed to have been built by Reginald Mohun in the early 13th century. By the mid-14th century the estate passed to the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, who held it for approximately 200 years. It was during this latter period that the moated site is thought to have fallen into disrepair and was abandoned. The moated site is roughly square in plan with external dimensions of approximately 100m east-west by 90m north-south and the ground falls away to the north. The moat ditches are dry, with the exception of part of the west arm, and some 4.6m wide. Beyond the east side of the moated site the ground falls away sharply and here an external, retaining bank which has been reinforced in recent times runs parallel with the moat arm. A break in the southern moat ditch is considered to be the original means of access to the moated island. A further causeway to the north gives access to a levelled platform which projects out of the hillslope and is thought to be an annexe of the moated site. There are intermittent traces of an inner bank around the perimeter of the moated island which itself retains evidence of slight earthworks. An excavation in the western half of the island in the early 1950s uncovered the foundations of stone buildings, believed to date from the early 13th century, and fragments of painted glass, fine quality pottery and stone-lined drains. The remains of a curtain wall of large ironstone blocks was also located along the inner edge of the western moat ditch. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Despite the castle name this site is probably best categorised, as far as such labels are meaningful, as a fortified manor house. Gatehouse has come across some online sources which suggest the 1954 excavation found a motte and bailey. This claim seems to be contradictory to the scheduling report and can be dismissed.