Wyberts Castle, Wyberton

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Wells Slade

In the civil parish of Wyberton.
In the historic county of Lincolnshire (Modern Authority of Lincolnshire, 1974 county of Lincolnshire).

Medieval moated site known as Wybert's Castle, located at the south end of Wybert Lane, about 2km east of the village of Wyberton. The moated complex covers an area measuring 210m by 170m surrounding an island measuring 180m by 120m. The island includes a central pond linked to the moat by a leat which may reflect a subdivision of the site. Excavations undertaken in 1959-60, by the Boston Archaeology Society, revealed remains of stone structures on the eastern half of the island, associated with pottery which suggested that the moated site was occupied during the C12 and C13 and with some evidence that the site may have been in use until C15. The moat encloses the island to the east, south and west, and measures between 7-12m across with an internal bank along much of its length. The eastern half of the northern moat arm has been infilled, but survives as a buried feature. The open section of the northern moat arm is enlarged, with a pond lying to its north. In 1086 there were two holdings in the area, one in possession of Count Alan of Brittany and the other held by Guy de Craon. By C13 much of the land at Wyberton, possibly that which was held by Count Alan, belonged to the Earl of Richmond and was tenanted. In C18 the moated site was known as 'Wells Slade', suggesting that it was held by the Wells family who had a manor at Wyberton in C14. Although they were not tenants it is thought that their holding at Wyberton may have descended from previously tenanted land. The name 'Wyberton Castle' is thought to be of late C19 origin.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TF33564102

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; 353965

• Web site links
  • http://www.lincsheritage.org/lincs/forts/index.html
    http://www.roffe.freeserve.co.uk/earthworks/moats/wyberton.htm
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern) p69
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p148 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p264
    Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1964, Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Harmondsworth) p718 [slight]
• Journal Articles
  • (Mayes), 1961, Medieval Archaeology Vol5 p327-8