Details

The monument comprises a motte castle situated on a prominent west-facing spur
in Stebbing Park, 750m north-west of the church. It includes a circular
earthern mound which measures 69m in diameter at its base, 15.5m in diameter
at its summit and is c.13m in height. Surrounding the motte is a waterfilled
moat which has a maximum width of 15m and is c.1.5m in depth. Originally a
narrow causeway on the west side of the moat gave access to the motte but
sometime in the last ten years this has been excavated to form a continuous
moat and access is now via a small wooden bridge.
The manor at Stebbing was held by Henry de Ferrers. During the latter part of
Stephen's reign, the then owner, Ralf, the Earl of Chester, fled leaving his
estates in the King's hands.
There are references to an excavation of the motte by R Armitage, though no
date is recorded and no details known.
Excluded from the scheduling are the concrete water tank, the concrete and
brick remains of an air raid shelter and the wooden footbridge but the ground
beneath these features is, however, included.

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

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Motte castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the
Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte,
surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of
examples an embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, the bailey,
adjoined the motte. Motte castles and motte-and-bai1ey castles acted as
garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in
many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal
administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte castles
generally occupied strategic positions dominating their immediate locality
and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early
post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles
and motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from
most regions. Some 100-150 examples do not have baileys and are classified as
motte castles. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest
monuments, they are particularly important for the study of Norman Britain and
the development of the feudal system. Although many were occupied for only a
short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from
the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other
types of castle.

Despite limited excavation, Stebbing Mount motte is well preserved and will
retain information relating to the building of the mound and the medieval
structures that occupied it. Additionally, environmental evidence is thought
to survive, particularly in the lower silts of the waterfilled moat. Such
evidence provides some indication of the environment within which the motte
was built and the economy of its inhabitants.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Information from Moated Sites Research Group cards
Other
Information from SMR (No 1179),

Source: Historic England