Moccas Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Mockes

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

Earthworks of the castle were visible during the early C20. These comprised two baileys and a small motte. Field investigations carried out in 1971 found most of the earthworks to be ploughed out. It is known that a licence was granted in 1293 for a structure without towers, to be less than ten feet in height below the crenellations, indicating that the site was not strongly defended. The earthwork remains of the motte and part of the bailey to the south-west were mapped from aerial photographs. The licence of 1293 was probably a rebuilding of an early motte and bailey.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Cropmarks/slight earthworks remains.

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1293 June 15.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO348425

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; 106110

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 1558

• Web site links
  • http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/castles/castlesdata_az/moccas_castle2.htm
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p476
    Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern) p52
    Shoesmith, Ron, 1996, Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p209
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p262
    RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire. Vol1: south-west p.xxxvi, 204-5
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Chalkley Gould, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Hereford Vol1 p254
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p113
    Robinson, Rev C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint)
    Robinson, Rev C.J., 1867, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (Logaston Press, 2002 reprint) p106-8
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p403
• Journal Articles
  • Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol38 p125n119
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1292-1301) p23