Caswell Moat, Leominster

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castle Moat

In the civil parish of Leominster.
In the historic county of Herefordshire (Modern Authority of Herefordshire, 1974 county of Hereford and Worcester).

"Castle" Moat, 800yds S of church, 4 sided enclosure surrounded by a dry moat. Extensive excavations at Castle (corruption of Caswell) moat disclosed no trace of buildings. The earthworks were interpreted as a moat of C14 to C15 in date, though few structures were defined. Two large ponds were identified on the platform of the moat. It may have belonged to Leominster Priory and been used as a fish farm. It went out of use in 1600 and was filled with medieval building material. Was descheduled in 1965.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
This site is rejected as a medieval fortification or palace.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO499875852

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 108154

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 542

• Web site links
  • http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/db.php?smr_no=542
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern) p74 [slight]
    Shoesmith, Ron, 1996, Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p214 [reject]
    RCHME, 1934, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire. Vol3: north-west p15
• Journal Articles
  • Hurst, Derek, 2002, 'Castle Moat Leominster, Excavation by Margaret Jones in 1962' Leominster History Study Group
    Hurst, D. Gillian, 1964, 'Medieval Britain in 1962 and 1963, II. Post-Conquest' Medieval Archaeology Vol8 p271