Rugby; The Island

In the civil parish of Rugby.
In the historic county of Warwickshire (Modern Authority of Warwickshire, 1974 county of Warwickshire).

The monks of Pipewell Abbey had a grange here and surrounded the ancient tumulus in the close with a moat, throwing the earth inwards and enlarging the space. This moat was filled from the land springs on the upper strata of the gravel and used as a stew for fish. (Bloxam) Wait describes 'The Island' as having a small ditch, but says that in 1797 this ditch was a moat from 1.2 to 1.8m wide and full of water. A wooden drawbridge with a spiked gate in the centre, crossed at the place where the cricket pavilion now stands. The original nature of 'The Island' is uncertain. It could have been a Bronze Age barrow, a small motte, or even a mound contructed specifically for meditation by the monks of the grange. The name 'The Island' is still in current use, and it is now grass covered and planted with trees. A notice states that that the moat was filled in in 1847. Situated on the edge of the playing fields. The NW side is encroached on by the timber pavilion. The Grange moved here in late C13

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP50367477

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; 340198

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 3652

• Web site links
  • http://timetrail.warwickshire.gov.uk/detail.aspx?monuid=WA3652
• Books
  • Bloxam M H., 1889, Rugby p182
    Wait O., 1893, Rugby p84