Blakemere Moat

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Black Mere; Blackmere; Black Park; Whitchurch; Whitecherche

In the civil parish of Whitchurch Urban.
In the historic county of Shropshire (Modern Authority of Shropshire, 1974 county of Shropshire).

Medieval moated site situated in a prominent position overlooking a natural pool known as Blake Mere. Documentary sources indicate that a manor house belonging to the Le Strange family existed here in C12. It passed to the Talbots in C14, and in 1383 was the birthplace of John Talbot, the first Earl of Shrewsbury. The Talbot family sold the manor in 1590 and by the end of the following century the house was in ruins. The moated site was constructed on ground which rises from south to north, alongside the former edge of Blake Mere. Three of the four moat arms that define the island survive as visible earthworks and are now dry. The island measures 56m north west to south east. In 1963 a trench was dug across the south eastern moat arm. During this investigation artefacts dating between C12 and C13 were discovered, together with the remains of two C16 retaining walls. Possibly licensed in 1322 to Fulk Le Strange.

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

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1322 July 14.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ55994247

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; 70971