Empingham Hall Close

Description

The moated site at Empingham is situated on the north bank of the river Gwash to the west of the village. It comprises a large rectangular moat, fishponds to the south-west, and garden plots and enclosures to the north and east. The moat, which lies with its longest axis parallel to the river, measures approximately 110m x 60m with a ditch 12m wide and more than 3m deep in the northern arm. There is a stone entrance causeway on the north west side. On the southern side there is an external bank with a channel leading towards the river, with less well defined signs of an outer bank on the east. Evidence of structures exists on the island in the form of stonework foundations defining the outline of a building. To the west is a fishpond 80m in length, 15m wide and 1.5m deep connected by channels to the moat; a second fishpond to the south which is 50m long, lies parallel to the river, and is part water-filled. North of the moat, terraces cut into the hillside are identified as garden or orchard plots which were part of the manorial complex. To the west of this, a hollow way comes down from the north and cuts across a number of banks identified as enclosure boundaries. (Scheduling Report)

The moat in Hall Close marks the site of the ancient manor house, no doubt the hall which Ralph de Normanville was building in 1221 and where in 1272 Sir Thomas de Normanville had licence to found a chapel. (VCH, 1935 ref. Blore)

Comments

Recorded as a 'moated inclosure with stronger defensive works' in the VCH earthworks chapter.