| NHER Number: | 9438 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | 'Moot Hill', Gristlewood |
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Summary
This isolated part of the Stanfield estate contains the remains of a large ring motte thought to have been built by the D'Albinis between 1088 and 1139. The feature is over 160m by 120m, with a large bank and water filled ditch, though the internal area also appears to be filled with irregular water-filled pits or ponds. It is thought that a gold ring of Katherine Bigot, wife of Roger Fitz-Ortet who held Stanfield Manor AD 1306, was also recovered from this area.
| Grid Reference: | TG 125 018 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG10SW |
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| Parish: | WYMONDHAM, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Monument Types
Associated Finds
| Protected Status: | Scheduled Monument |
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Full description
Despite name, not a hundred court site. Derived from Mote Hill?
(S1) suggests a 12th century ring motte which is probably correct. R. R. Clarke (NCM) in April 1930 gave dimentions as 525ft (160m) by 420ft (128m). 150 yds (136m) by 130 yds (118m), single bank with external wet ditch, rampart 14-16ft (4.3m - 4.9m) above bottom of ditch; ground level inside 7ft (2.1m) above ditch bottom; at 125ft (38m) OD. Pools in interior, entrance on north.
1930.
Trenches dug by Mr Batteley of Wymondham inside revealed pot boilers and animal bones - nothing dateable.
Seen by R. R. Clarke (NCM).
4 June 1980. Visited by E. Rose (NAU).
Totally overgrown but in good condition. Clarke's dimensions seem correct but too overgrown to be exactly checked, or even to see if ditch is still wet! Interior ponds are remarkably deep - purpose? - resemble quarries. NB interior very
dangerous; undergrowth 1m high conceals small pits and fallen trees. Only access from Harts Farm. This is an isolated salient of the Stanfield estate and used to have its own level crossing! See below - was this the site of the original Stanfield manor?
Found in 'Grishaugh Wood' (?Gristlewood). Gold ring of Katherine Bigot, wife of Roger Fitz-Ortet who held Stanfield Manor AD 1306. Ornamented with interior inscription, seal with another inscription and goat (S2). Formerly numbered as NHER 9442. According to R. R. Clarke, in NCM.
E. Rose (NAU).
(S3) - NB description inaccurate. Ditches marked north of Gristlewood House (now gone) seem to be modern drainage. (S4) (not checked), (S5), (S1).
Aerial photographs Meridian airmaps Ltd nos 90/67 174 and 175 (Unit accesion TG 1201/B and C.
Site remains very overgrown, with dead wood littering both ditches and interior.
H. Paterson (NLA), 20 February 1997.
October 1999.
Earthwork survey at 1:1250, with report in file.
B. Cushion, 20 October 1999.
(S7) suggests that this was built by the D'Albinis between 1088 and 1139.
D. Gurney (NLA), 14 May 2003.
(S8) states that this was at the centre of Grisehahe or Old Deer Park - no other details given and map of park too general to transfer to the HER.
E. Rose (NLA), 23 April 2007
Sources and further reading
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary file. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: TG1201B, C. |
| --- | Bibliographic reference: Cushion, B. and Davison, A.. 2003. Earthworks of Norfolk IN East Anglian Archaeology 104. vol. 104. p 186 |
| --- | Graphic material: Cushion, B.. Earthwork survey. |
| S1 | Bibliographic reference: Braun. 1936. The English Castle. |
| S2 | Bibliographic reference: 1835. Woodward Correspondance. p.59 2. |
| S3 | Bibliographic reference: Norfolk Archaeology. vol.IX p.363. |
| S4 | Bibliographic reference: 1858 -. Journal of the British Archaeological Association. vol.XIV p.196. |
| S5 | Bibliographic reference: Clarke. 1915. Guide to Wymondham. p.19. |
| S6 | Scheduling record: Corbishley, M.J.. 1983. AM107. |
| S7 | Bibliographic reference: Liddiard, R.. 2000. Landscapes of Lordship. pp 88-89 |
| S8 | Bibliographic reference: Cattermole, P.. 2007. Wymondham Abbey. P 161-2. Map, pg 10 |
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