Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/317

 ANCIENT EARTHWORKS HOMESTEAD MOATS (Class F) Allensmore. — Four miles south-west of Hereford. At Meer Court three-quarters of a rectangular moat of considerable size remain. Almeley. — Four miles south-east of Kington. Between Sarnesfield Coppice and Ferney Com- mon is an oblong moated inclosure, much destroyed on its eastern side. AsHPERTON. — Five miles north-west of Led- bury. At Freetown, in this parish, is a portion of a considerable rectangular moat. At Walsopthorne are the fragmentary remains of another. Aymestrey : Leinthall Earls. — Seven miles south-west of Ludlow. Gatley Farm-house, on lofty ground, retains a moat. Bishop's Frome. — Four miles south of Brom- yard, Cheyney Court retains a portion of the original moating. Traces also exist at Hopton, an old grange. BiSHOPSTONE. — Seven miles west-north-west of Hereford. The Court possesses a complete moat of considerable area, with entrances on the east and west. BosBURV. — Four and a half miles north-by-west of Ledbury. On the west of this parish, on the site of the house of the Knights Templars, part of the moat remains. Bredenbury. — Three miles west-north-west from Bromyard. Slight remains are at Sawbury Hill, close to the Bromyard road. Brinsop. — Five miles north-west-by-west of Hereford. In this parish are two good examples, one at Brinsop Court, the other a little to the south. Brockhampton (Lower). — Four miles north- north-west of Ross. Three-quarters of a mile north of Brockhampton Park is a rectangular moat with some slight remains of masonry where the gatehouse, with a portcullis, stood. Adjoining this moat on the east side is another and much smaller moated inclosure. Bromyard. — Thirteen miles north-east of Hereford. Brockhampton Manor House in this parish was formerly a moated grange. BuRGHlLL. — Three and a quarter miles north- north-west of Hereford. The work consists of a small square platform surrounded by a moat, with an outside rampart upon the south and east, acting Church — 3 00 rr as a dam to form a water level, the moat, now dry, once being filled with water. The work is pro- bably that of a moated homestead, but standing as it does in the open field and close to the church, it has the appearance of having been of greater importance than it was. There are four other homestead moats within 3 miles.*^* Canon Frome. — Five miles north-west of Ledbury. The Court (sometimes called the Strong House) which played a part in the 17th- century wars, was moated. The old house has been pulled down, but the course of the moat may be traced. Canon Pyon. — Four and a half miles south- east-by-east from Weobley. A quarter of a mile north-east of Green Plock is a considerable and perfect rectangular moat with a causeway on the southern side. Castle Frome. — Seven miles north-west of Ledbury. At New Birchend is a small and complete rectangular moat. CoLLiNGTON. — Four and a half miles north from Bromyard. A small but perfect moat surrounds the spot which still goes by the name of Martin's Castle. CoLWALL. — Four miles north-east of Led- bury. A portion of the moat at Brockbury Hall remains. At Cummings Farm is a fragment of a rect- angular moat. Cradley. — Seven miles north-east from Led- bury. Three parts of a circular moat remain at Seeds Farm near Ridgeway Cross. DiLWYN Moat. — Five and a half miles south- west of Leominster. This work is upon ground a few feet above the level of Stretford Brook, which flows half a mile south. Though suggestive of a castle site the work ap- pears rather to be of the homestead moat class ; per- haps an ancient manorial holding. The parish church is distant about an eighth of a mile. About half a mile south-east of the above is a small rectangular moated inclosure fairly perfect except on the east side. DoNNiNGTON TuMP. — Two and miles south of Ledbury. This moat lies 20 ft. above the level of Leadon, which flows half a mile ^^^^^™'% ^'■"""■"■"^^^^ll scflLt or rctT 100 Zoo 300 DiLWYN Moat a quarter homestead the River the west. BuRGHiLL Moat Owing to the proximity of a stream the land on ^' Since the above was written, the mound has been completely levelled and the moat filled up. 249 32