Sutton upon Derwent Giants Hill

In the civil parish of Sutton Upon Derwent. In the historic county of Yorkshire East Riding (Modern Authority of East Riding of Yorkshire, 1974 county of Humberside).

Medieval moated motte surviving as an earthwork. The mound is 4m high and 23m in diameter. The enclosing moat is 1.5 to 2m wide and 1m deep. It has been suggested that it was built to guard the nearby crossing of the River Derwent. Park moat related to moated site at St Lois (or Loys) according to Jean le Patourel. In woodland. Since the crossing of the Derwent was clearly a kilometer further south and a motte at Sutton or Elvington would be more usual, and given the view that it is a park moat, it is doubtful as motte in my view. Recorded in VCH as possible site of moated homestead.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SE71044862

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 59495
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Books
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p532 [possible]
    Allison, K.J. (ed), 1976, 'Sutton Upon Derwent' VCH Yorkshire East Riding Vol3
    Le Patourel, H.E. Jean, 1973, The Moated Sites of Yorkshire (The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series 5) p116
• Journal Articles
  • Ramm, H.G., 1965, The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol41 p331