Court House Farm Moat, Pembridge

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

Large and unencumbered oval moated site. Mound with remains of wet moat site of probably fortified mansion. A castle was mentioned here in 1219. A geophysical survey indicates there was a stone founded building aligned NE/SW on the moated site. There were no other substantial structures. An area to the east, possibly an outer bailey (SMR 32798) showed strong resistance indicating a stone building or cobbled floor. A holloway led from the moat to the church, now filled in. The site would appear to have been the main residence of the Pembridge family. Discussion is given as to the possible revetment of the mound due to the amount of stone in the area. There is evidence of re-used ashlar stone work in the Court House and other nearby C17 properties. The stone work matches C14 stonework in the church and possibly indicates a structure of that date on the mound. A C17 document refers to a 'mansion house' south of the church and the 'remains of a fortified keep or small castle'.

This site has been described as a;
Fortified Manor House
Timber Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Earthworks remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO39085800

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; 106154

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 358

• Web site links
  • http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/db.php?smr_no=358
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern) p56
    Shoesmith, Ron, 1996, Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press)
    RCHME, 1934, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire. Vol3: north-west p163
    
• Journal Articles
  • Archaeological Research Section Woolhope NFC, 1994, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol63, 18