Probable remains of medieval moated manor and site of moat, 'Manhall Manor', in Emmanuel Wood (EHER 4768)

The site of a medieval moat which has been levelled by ploughing: it is thought to have been built in the 13th century. The moat is shown at this location on a map of 1800 in the Essex Record Office and a geophysical survey in 2019 recorded results consistent with the remains of a moat, despite the site having been mostly ploughed out. Documentary evidence connects Emmanuel Wood with the ancient manor of Manhall and it is thought that the moat surrounded the manor house. There is conjectural evidence to suggest the manor house may have been the castle built by Richard, Duke of Gloucester in 1259 (though EHER 4757 is also considered a location). A tiled floor associated with the manor house was discovered when the site was levelled in around the 1940s. Medieval pottery and Roman (EHER 4769) finds have been noted at the site.

A series of humps and bumps, with a very large spread of pottery fragments and rubble found in the Emmanuel Wood, Four Acre Grove area (area indicated on a map in this source). The area covered is approximately 1 quarter mile square from "a very large occupational site" [it is unclear what site is being referred to here]. The finds have been identified by Barry Hooper as medieval, with some being Roman (see EHER 4769). There is documentary information which connects Emmanuel Wood with the ancient manor of Manhall. "Although conjecture at this stage it would seem that the medieval sites around this area are all connected with the Manor of Manhall" (see EHER 4757, EHER 4758). This site may be the location of a castle built in the 13th century at or near Manhall. The Manor house of Manhall Manor "was almost certainly in the area of the present Emmanuel Wood and Four Acre Grove". This became disused and fell into disrepair during the 17th century. A new house was built elsewhere (see EHER 4770). Before Domesday and the conquest, the manor was held by Siward. In 1086 it was held by Alan of Brittany and Geoffrey de Mandeville (with Siward as tenant). The de Mandeville connection becomes confused but in 1199 it was given by King Steven to St Edmund's Abbey. It was held by the Abbot of Walden Abbey. In 1257 it was given to Richard, Earl of Gloucester (not clear if as owner or tenant) who built a castle on his land in Manhall (this may be the site at Paddock Wood, EHER 4757). In the 16th century the manor became part of the Audley End estate and it remained in the family of the Earls of Suffolk until 1793 (later history in this source). <1> The placename Manhall is mentioned in 1086 and after. <2> A charter in Saffron Walden Library indicates that Siward's family were given back lands (presumably Manhall too) by the descendants of Geoffrey de Mandeville who took from Siward in around 1086. <3> A deserted moat has been located on a map of around 1800 in the ERO. When the site was cleared and levelled approximately 25yrs ago [of 1968] a tiled floor was disturbed by ploughing. F. Weightman and F. Gomm found a deep hollow around a slight mound approximately 36 x 32ft, and a spread of debris, Romano-British bricks, flints, dressed stone. There was evidence of destruction by fire. Romano-British, medieval and later sherds were collected. An adjacent field is called Wardcroft. <4> <5> Medieval pottery was found by by the Chesterford Park Archaeological Society. Surface finds had also been collected in 1968 and they are in Saffron Walden Museum. <6> Sherds 12th-13th century. Fragments of roof tile with traces of glaze (?), fragments of shelly limestone marked by fire. Collected by Sellers from ploughed site of Manhall, 13th century castle and moated manor. Some finds in Colchester Museum. <7> <8> Site Assessment: Castle could be here or at another site such as at Paddock Wood (EHER 4757). Accession numbers needed for Saffron Walden Museum finds. Report on the finds held by Little Chesterford Park Historical Society: one box of early medieval pottery, with some medieval brick and tile. <9> May 2019 and November 2021. Geophysical survey. The results of the geophysical survey are consistent with a moated manor. The lack of magnetic noise suggests very little brick or tile. The band of low resistivity with the coincident strong magnetic response, and the similar parallel magnetic response to the north-east are likely to be the remnants of a moat. A possible third side of the moat is shown on the north-west edge of the magnetometry but the east side of the north-west to south-east strong lines appears to continue past the branching point. <10> Note: The area around the moat contains a series of cropmarks, see EHER 16226. NRHE data transfer: "Little Chesterford (TL 530415). In 1259 Richard, Duke of Gloucester, had leave to build a castle at Manhall Manor. This Domesday site, which is not shown on the OS maps, has now been located as a deserted moat on a map of about 1800 in the Essex Record Office (D/DU 120). When the site was cleared and levelled about 25 years ago a tiled floor was disturbed by ploughing. F. Weightman and F. Gomm found a damp hollow surrounding a slight mound, about 36ft by 32ft, and a spread of debris, Roman brick, flints and dressed stone, with evidence of destruction by fire. Roman, medieval and later sherds were collected. An adjacent field is called Wardcroft". <4> Earthworks visible at TL 530 416. <11> December 1977. Field survey. The site of Manhall moat, shown on the map of about 1800, is centred at TL 5300 4154. It formerly measured about 100m east-west by 60m north-south with an entrance across the centre of the south arm. The site, which lies on the crest of a prominent south facing spur, is now reduced to amorphous undulations in plough, with several vague stone scatters indicating the site of possible buildings. According to Mr D. Smith, the area has produced pottery from 10th century onwards, but only random Romano-British sherds have been found. No evidence has been found to substantiate the suggestion of a castle site. The two informants (in source <4>) were known to Mr Smith, but have since left the district. The earthworks seen by source <11> represent enclosures associated with the former moated site; visible on OS air photographs (<12>), but now ploughed out. <13>