Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/319

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ANCIENT EARTHWORKS remains of Moor Abbey partly surrounded by a moat. MoRETON-ON-LuGG. — Four miles north from Hereford. Close to the church are the remains of a large moated inclosure, of which the northern side and most of the cast have been destroyed by farm buildings. Much Dewchurch. — Five and a half miles south-west from Hereford. Near Cottage Farm, about half a mile north-west of Wormelow Tump, is a perfect rectangular moat with an entrance on the south side. Much Marcle. — Six miles north-east of Ross. Considerable remains of a nearly circular moat exist north-east of Rushall. MuNSLEY. — Four miles north-west from Led- bury. A poor fragment of a moat remains at Paunceford Court. Also much larger traces at Lower Court, which consisted originally of a circular moat with a rectangular inclosure outside it. Pembridge Court House. — Six and a half miles west-by-south of Leominster. This inclosure is upon ground about 40 ft. above the River Arrow, which flows a quarter of a mile on the north. The position has no f enurck natural defence and the entrench- ment consists only of a moat, well marked except up- on the west, where farm buildings more or less inter- fere with the re- turn from the north. Once the ditch was much deeper, and probably the inside verge of the moat was defended by a wall of earth or masonry. Owing to the simplicity of the defensive work we include this in Class F, but as Pembridge Court House was occupied by families of distinc- tion in past centuries the house was no doubt of importance. Five village churches within 4 miles also have defensive earthworks near by. Pembridge Hunton Earthwork. — Three miles north-east-by-east of Kington. The work consists of a platform formerly surrounded by a perfect moat. Destruction has overtaken the southern portion of the moat, rendering the in- closed island easily accessible. The work has been supposed by local antiquaries to have been of importance, but it appears to be just a simple homestead moat such as abound in various parts of the country. Pipe and Lyde. — Three miles north from Hereford. Lyde Court evidently once possessed moating inclosing a considerable area, but the moat has been much destroyed, excepting at the northern angle. farm • •^" , A i;5 ._ »CALt or FecT too zoo 30O The Moat, Pembridge Court House PixLEY. — Three and three-quarter miles north- west from Ledbury. At Court-y-Park are much broken fragments of a moated inclosure originally about 300 ft. square. At Mainstone Court is a more perfect moat, oblong in form with a rounded end on the south. In this parish are other broken fragments of moats. Shobdon. — Six and a quarter miles north-west of Leominster. There are the remains of a moated inclosure at Ledicot, but in a very fragmentary condition. SoLLERS Hope. — Seven and a half miles north- east from Ross. Part of the moat remains on the site of the old manor-house. Stoke Lacy. — Four miles south-west from Bromyard. At Lower Hopton in this parish is a perfect and nearly circular moat with a causeway entrance on the north-west. Stretton Grandison. — Eight miles north- west from Ledbury. Partly in this parish and partly in Eggleton is a long stretch of moating, which appears to have been one side of a great inclosure. Sutton St. Michael. — Four miles north-east from Hereford. At Freen's Court is one arm of moating which must have been of large extent. Tarrington. — Seven miles north-west from Ledbury. Haifa mile east of Stoke Edith is one angle of an old moated inclosure. Thornbury. — Four miles north-west of Bromyard. Netherwood, now a farm-house, was formerly a moated mansion. VowcHURCH. — Ten miles west-by-south from Hereford. A circular moat, with some traces of an outer work, exists at Monnington. Wacton. — Four and a half miles north-west from Bromyard. At Wacton Court are frag- mentary remains of a moat. Weobley. — Seven miles south-west from Leominster. At Nunslands are the remains of a large moat, well supplied with water. Westhide. — Eight miles north-east from Hereford. At the Court are the remains of moat- ing, the north-east portion being very much enlarged to form a fish-pond. Weston Beggard. — Five miles east from Hereford. One angle of a moat remains at Shuck- nall Court. WiNSLOW. — Two and a half miles south-west from Bromyard. The site of Rowdcn Abbey retains a large amount of moating on the west, and some portions on other sides. Yarkhill. — Seven miles north-east of Here- ford. At Showle Court are irregular remains of a moat which appears to have been enlarged to form a pond. At Yarkhall in the same parish is a well- defined water-moated inclosure which must have been of considerable strength. 251