Details

Maxey Castle is situated at Castle End on the north edge of the village of
Maxey. The castle is a later medieval moated site with outworks to the north
and north east and an associated fishpond to the south east.
The moated site includes a square central island, measuring 50m across,
which is surrounded by a wet moat on the south west, north west and north
east sides. The remaining side, the south east, has been largely infilled to
the level of the external ground surface although the moat ditch will survive
as a buried feature. Where the moat is open it is about 16m wide. The
ditches have been cleared of silt recently using a machine, and the upcast
material dumped on the island; as a result the ditches are now permanently
wet. Two duck houses, reached from the island, have been constructed in the
moat.
There is a counterscarp bank, between 6m and 10m wide, on the north west and
north east sides of the moat. On the north east side there is a broad, level
terrace, 6m wide, beyond the outer bank. A 10m wide gully leads almost
directly north east from the south east corner of the moat. This is thought to
be an internal boundary feature. A 5m wide and 0.4m deep leat leads from the
south east corner of the moat to a small rectangular fishpond lying adjacent
to Mill Road. The pond, which is dry, measures 45m along the north east/south
west axis, and 15m acoss the north west-south east axis. It is about 1.5m
deep and both the north east end and the north west side are slightly
embanked. There is a 5m wide outlet channel at the eastern end of the
south east side which drains into the boundary ditch flanking the road. This
ditch forms part of the southern boundary ditch of the group of enclosures to
the north and north east of the moated site. It is for the most part 4m wide
and flanked by an internal bank, 4m wide and 0.6m high. The ditch returns
along the east side, abutting the boundary fence, for approximately 160m
before terminating abruptly. At a point some 20m to the south of the ditch
terminal the bank and ditch divides with a branch of the bank projecting
westwards for approximately 90m before turning north again. To the north and
east of the moat a second bank, approximately 0.5m high and 4m-6m wide, runs
parallel to the outer flood defences, some 8m within the outer bank. The
second bank is also flanked by an external ditch, approximately 0.4m deep
and 3m-4m wide. This feature continues parallel to the north west arm of the
moated enclosure. These two ditch systems, which define a group of enclosures
to the north east and north of the moated site, probably served to define
paddocks and courtyards associated with the moated site, although their
primary purpose seems to have been as flood defences.
The history of Maxey Castle is well documented and indicates that occupation
was relatively short-lived. A licence to crenellate (fortify) the moated manor
was granted in 1374-75. By the mid-16th century, however, Leland observed that
parts of the site were already ruinous. A 16th century illustration of the
castle shows it to have had a tall central tower or keep and a number of
earthwork banks, the outer flanked by a ditch parallel to the north east
angle of the moat.
All modern fences, the two duck-houses in the moat and the modern timber
building outside the north west arm of the moat are excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath all these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches,
often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more
islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some
cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites
served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the
provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical
military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was
between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in
central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built
throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and
exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a
significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding
of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples
provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.

Although the moat has been partially damaged by infilling and clearance, Maxey
Castle remains a well preserved example of a single-island moated site, with
surviving features related to water management and an associated fishpond. The
area to the north of the moated enclosure contains a rare example of an outer
courtyard surrounded by flood defences, the importance of which is enhanced by
the evidence contained in a 16th century map held in the Public Record Office.
The history of Maxey Castle is well documented and shows that occupation was
of a relatively limited duration. The monument is therefore of considerable
significance for the study of moated sites since it represents a particular
stage in their development.
The silts within the ditches, the fishpond and the undisturbed section of the
moat will contain environmental and artefactual evidence related to the
occupation of the site. The island and courtyard will retain buried remains
including the foundations of buildings.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Peers, C, The Victoria History of the County of Northamptonshire, (1906), 502
Leland, J, 'Leland's Itinerary' in Leland's Itinerary, , Vol. Fol 5, (1964), 32
Other
16th century illustration of site, P.R.O. MP 1 251,

Source: Historic England