Rayleigh Mount

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Rayleigh Castle

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

Motte and bailey situated in a commanding position on a spur overlooking the Crouch valley. Apparently built end of C11 by Suene (Sweyn), son of Robert Fitz-Wimarc. No masonry survives above ground. Plan consists of a strong keep-mound with a bailey to the E, and a possible outer bailey on the same side. Both the mound and the inner bailey are surrounded by a deep dry ditch, with a strong outer bank with traces of an external ditch on the N and W. A scarp drooping into gardens to the E and traces of ditches at the SE corner may represent the outer bailey. The natural contours of the ground contribute to the defences of the castle. The approach to the mound is by a causeway on the S side, and the entrance to the inner bailey appears to have been through the rampart on the N. The moun is 50ft high above the ditch on the NW side, and the inner bailey is 260ft by 150ft. Documentary evidence indicates that the castle site was occupied from c.1070 to the mid C14, with intensive occupation during the first 100 years, followed by intermittent development, and another period of intensive occupation late C13 and possibly early C14. No record has been found for a deliberate destruction of the castle.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ80499095

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 419161
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 13586; 125*0 [NT SMR] '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.

• Books
  • Neville, David, 2003, Lost Castles of Essex (Ian Henry) p60-2
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern) p39
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p76
    Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford)
    Loyn, H., 1989, 'Rayleigh in Essex, its implications for the Norman settlement' in Harper-Bill, C., Holdsworth, C.J. and Nelson, J.L. (eds), Studies in medieval history presented to R. Allen Brown (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p146
    Helliwell, L. and Macleod, D.G., 1981, Documentary Evidence and Report on Excavations 1959-1961 and Report on Excavations 1969-1970, (Rayleigh Mount Local Committee)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p283
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p804 [slight]
    RCHME, 1923, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex. Vol4 [south-east] p123-4
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p191-2
    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 p299-300
    Strutt, Joseph, 1774, Horda Angel-cynnan (London) Vol1 plate xxx
• Journal Articles
  • Harfield, C.G., 1991, 'A Hand-list of Castles Recorded in the Domesday Book' English Historical Review Vol106 p371-392 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28199104%29106%3A419%3C371%3AAHOCRI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q
    1998, Essex Archaeology and history Vol29
    1997, Essex Archaeology and history Vol28 p290-2
    Milton, B., 1987, ‘Excavations at Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh, Essex' Essex Archaeology and history Vol18 p39-44
    1986, Essex Archaeology and history Vol17 p162
    Youngs, S.M., Clark, J. and Barry, T., 1986, ‘Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1985' Medieval Archaeology Vol30 p134-5 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    1984-5, Essex Archaeology and history Vol16 p132
    Youngs, S.M., Clark, J. and Barry, T.B., 1984, 'Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1983' Medieval Archaeology Vol28 p217 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    Rigold, S., 1975, 'Structural aspects of medieval timber bridges' Medieval Archaeology Vol19 p48-91 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    [Helliwell and McLeod], 1971, Medieval Archaeology Vol15 p145-6 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    [Helliwell and McLeod], 1970, Medieval Archaeology Vol14 p176 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    McLeod, 1970, Essex Journal p112-15
    1963 Spring, National Trust News Letter p38-9
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 p249-280 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p90-121] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
    Brown, R. Allen, 1955, 'Royal Castle-building in England 1154-1216' English Historical Review Vol70 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press)] pp19-64
    Francis, E.B., 1913, 'Rayleigh Castle: new facts in its history and recent explorations on its site' Essex Archaeological Society transactions Vol12 p147-185
    Round, 1895, Essex Archaeological Society transactions Vol5 p41-3
    Laver, 1893, Essex Archaeological Society transactions Vol4 p172-8 [called a British work]
• Guidebooks
  • Helliwell, L. and MacLeod, D., 1965, Rayleigh Mount (National Trust)
    Voss, W.A., 1951, Rayleigh Mount (National Trust)