Nayland Court Knoll

In the civil parish of Nayland With Wissington.
In the historic county of Suffolk (Modern Authority of Suffolk, 1974 county of Suffolk).

Situated 150m East of Nayland Bridge on the flood-plain of the River Stour and consisting of a D-shaped earthwork with a mound in the Nort-East corner, has the superficial appearance of a motte and bailey. In this connection its position at an old crossing of the River Stour is perhaps not without significance. The defences, where best preserved, have an unusual profile comprising a low, faint rampart separated from an outer ditch by a berm. Cut into the bottom of the ditch is a further ditch, presumably a modern drainage feature, and part dry when visited. A gap in the North-West corner is possibly an original entrance. The mound, which is very vague but appears to be near-circular on plan, measure approx. 40m. in diameter and reaches a maximum height of 1m There are faint traces of a ditch around the W. side. tish Ragstone is visible in the ditch East of the mound. The exact nature of this building is obscure but the presence of Kentish Ragstone suggests an early medieval date. It is therefore, possibly the chapel referred to by Morant and the mound may mark its site.

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

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL97553399

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; 384529