A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE C. Rectangular or other simple inclosures, including forts and towns of the Romano-British period. D. Forts consisting only of a mount with encircling ditch or fosse. E. Fortified mounts, either artificial or partly natural, with traces of an attached court or bailey, or of two or more such courts. F. Homestead moats, such as abound in some lowland districts, consisting of simple inclosures formed into artificial islands by water moats. G. Inclosures, mostly rectangular, partaking of the form of F, but protected by stronger defensive works, ramparted and fossed, and in some instances provided with outworks. H. Ancient village sites protected by walls, ramparts or fosses. X. Defensive works which fall under none of these headings. Two examples only exist of Class A and both are greatly mutilated. Agriculture and quarrying have been fatal to Billesdon, and the Castle Hill of Mountsorrel has been subjected to the rough usage of a common play- ground. Class B is represented by four good fortresses in a fair state of preserva- tion. The great height and carefully guarded entrances of Breedon on the Hill ; and the massiveness of the vallum at Burrough on the Hill, are particular features ; while the peculiar position of Sanvey Castle is note- worthy. The defences of Beacon Hill are not so perfect, but the position is unsurpassed for the purpose indicated by its name. In the examples of Class C, that at Ratby demands special attention , whilst in that at Hungerton the adaptation of early entrenchments to mediaeval defences is dealt with more fully under Class G. Among the five mounts of Class D, the great variation in height and strength call for attention. Belvoir Castle is the most imposing, and it is still a subject for discussion as to how far the mount is natural or artificial. Of the mounts with baileys, under Class E, Hallaton stands pre-eminent; but that at Whitwick is interesting in so far as both the mount and court are upon the summit of a natural hill. Class F contains the most numerous examples. These homestead moats are scattered over the whole area of the county ; while some are in a perfect state, the major part have been partially destroyed. In Class G the defended moats are not generally of great strength, that at Hungerton owes its massiveness to an earlier age ; at Kirby Muxloe the revetment has gone and the moat is now being obliterated ; and except at the last-named the moats of this class have been drained of water. There is, how- ever, at Kirkby Mallory one of great strength and regularity, unique of its kind, sufficiently unknown to be open to wide conjecture. With many, how- ever, there remain extensive low ditches and banks, surrounding rectangular plots of ground, which have doubtless been reduced in depth and height by agriculture. At Kirby Bellars these are most extensively seen and present an example of works which must be considered as more or less defensive in their origin. Another feature in the earthworks attached to many manor houses and religious establishments is the fishponds ; these are most noticeable at the Leper Hospital of Burton Lazars, and they were no doubt provided to stock fresh fish for food for the afflicted. Possibly as a preventive from the same disease similar provision was made by the lords of manors ; while at religious houses these ponds would contain part of the diet allowed to the professed on certain occasions, and for the guesten hall. Where these fish- 244
