Clavering Castle

In the civil parish of Clavering. In the historic county of Essex (Modern Authority of Essex, 1974 county of Essex).

Moated enclosure of possibly the preconquest 'Robert's Castle' recorded in 1052. The main defensive work comprises a strong, rectangular enclosure 150m east-west x 100m north-south, with part waterfilled arms about 26m wide x 5m deep. The interior of the enclosure is at the same level as the surrounding ground level and contains building robber trenches though these have been disturbed by later digging. Morant speaks of castle walls "not long since in being" but no evidence survives today. An original entrance crosses the south east angle but has been disturbed by a later trackway. Associated with the northern retaining bank of the enclosure ditch is a series of earthen banks, channels and two pond bays associated with a former water mill. Identification and dating of these works is uncertain. A dam is associated with the mill. The RCHME noted slight remains of earthworks east and west of the main work but too imperfect to allow any estimate of their use. According to OS card the moat is in fairly good condition, as are earthworks of castle and mill. Earthworks east and west of the main work, mentioned by RCHME, too slight to be mapped. Those on the east side are so irregular they suggest gravel digging operations many years ago. The attribution of this castle to Robert's Castle is sometimes refuted and certainly questioned by many including King.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL47073191

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 370658
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 113; 114 '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.

• Web site links
  • http://www.claveringonline.org.uk/Local%20History/Castle%20frame.htm
• Books
  • Neville, David, 2003, Lost Castles of Essex (Ian Henry) p40-3
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern) p23
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p76 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p143
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p209
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    RCHME, 1916, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex. Vol1 [north-west] p70-1, 291-3, 345
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Gould, Chalkley, 1903, in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol1 p291-3
    Schofield, J., The parishes of Berden and Clavering, Essex: A topographical study
• Journal Articles
  • 1923, Trans Essex Archaeol Soc Vol18 p189-190