More information : (TF 049 128) Castle (site of). (1)
Earthworks, classified as a moated enclosure with stronger defensive works (see plan). (2)
Residence probably built by the Busseys or Robert de Vipont at the end of the 12th or early in the 13th cent. For some centuries the residence of the Lords of the Manor and could have still been standing in Queen Elizabeth's reign. Site covers just over an acre and is encompassed by a deep moat. There is no tradition of any other Mansion House having existed, but records do not mention any castle. (This would appear to be a defended mansion house rather than a castle). (3)
The earthworks comprise a strongly ditched island with an outer court containing Essendine parish church to the south. A fishpond survives to the north but the smaller stews on the south side (shown on plan, Authy.2) were filled in before the 1939-45 war (local information). The site is flanked on the east by the River Glen. In reasonably good condition but has a fair covering of trees and undergrowth; no building foundations were seen. See 25" survey. (4)
TF 0494 1283. Essendine Castle moated site. A large fortified manor site with a fishpond and an adjoining enclosure containing a church (TF 01 SW - excluded from the scheduling). The moat is very large, the outer dimensions being 100m square. The ditch is 30m wide on the western side, up to 40m on the North, and 3-4m deep. The moat island occupies an area of 50m x 55m. The adjoining fishpond of roughly triangular shape measures 60m x 30m maximum. The outer enclosure to the south side, is rectangular, measuring 120m x 50m overall and has access via a bridge. The strong defensive nature of the site and its similarities to Woodhead Castle (SK 91 SE 6) suggest a variation of a ringwork. Scheduled (RSM) No.17012. (5)
There is a large moated platform with a fishpond to the north and an enclosure on the south side containing a chapel (now the parish church). A complex of small fishponds is now ploughed away. The castle is described in an extent of 1417 (a-b) (6)
The moat described by the previous authorities was masked by trees on the available air photographs. The fish ponds mapped by authority 2 to the south of the moat and thought to have been filled in before World War II by authority 4 are in fact visible on air photographs taken in 1947 (7a) and 1953 (7b). They were visible at TF 0495 1272 as a large L-shaped ditch with two parallel banks to the north of the ditch. (Morph Nos LI.771.2.1-2).
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (7)
Analysis of the site in relation to its Mediaeval landscpe, the church, manor etc. (8) |