11th to 12th century motte and possible bailey south of Rickling Hall, Rickling (EHER 3921)

A motte and possible bailey, thought to be Norman 11th to 12th century.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Motte and bailey castle south of Rickling Hall. The mount is 18 1/2ft high and 135ft in diameter at the base. The ditch, now 5ft deep, has been partly destroyed. The ditch and part of a bailey, which apparently existed on the north, have been converted into the moat of the present house. <1> - <4> In 1950 the mount was in rather poor condition, was tree covered and apparently a favourite place for cattle in the summer, consequently it was much trampled and somewhat despoiled. Height 4-5m above ground. <5> Seven photos of moat and earthworks in the SMR. <6> According to OS 1975 the motte has been disturbed by landscaping and the ditch destroyed. 40m overall in diameter and 5m high. The bailey ditch to the west was converted into the hall moat. Traces of a continuation of the bailey to north and east survive in the form of a farm pond (TL 49983024) and a scarp 1m high to the east of the Hall. Where best preserved the ditch is 22m wide x 2m deep. It becomes site TL53-051 when it overlaps onto sheet TL 53. <7> Map and photos in SMR. <8> Land falls from west to east. Site of present hall has been levelled, therefore the ground inside the remaining moat is 1m or lower than outside. Moat dry but part flooded, 14m wide, 3m to 0m deep, diminishes northwards. East and part of north arm have been obliterated. <9> Sketch plan of moat on back MSRG card. <10> Mention on OS card. <11> See also: <12> 1975. Field survey. At TL 49913013 to the south of Rickling Hall are the remains of a motte. It has been extensively mutilated by garden landscaping, and the ditch which formerly surrounded it has been filled in, but it survives to a height of 5.0m and measures 40.0m, in diameter. There are no certain remains of a bailey, though the homestead moat which remains around Rickling Hall (See TL 43 SE 2) could be utilising an earlier defence. No documentary evidence for a castle pre-dating Rickling Hall (around 1500) was found. Published survey (25") revised. <13>