Kingsley Castle Cob

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castle Cobb; Manley

In the civil parish of Manley. In the historic county of Cheshire (Modern Authority of Cheshire, 1974 county of Cheshire).

Barrow or Medieval motte castle surviving as an earthwork. A steep sided earthen mound 19m in diameter and up to 2.8m high. The flat top is c. 6m in diameter. Excavations in C19 found the motte to be built of black soil. The stone steps and concrete base of an old summerhouse on the side of the motte are excluded from the Scheduling. (PastScape)
Generally accepted without question as a castle, although lacks documentary evidence, significant ditches or bailey and is not near significant medieval settlement. However, modern buildings occupy the probably bailey and significant reuse as a summer house and water tank has modified the mound. Is this a symbolic mound showing the knightly status of the Norman tenant farmer?

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ53387341

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 71622
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 898; 4167 '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
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern) p20
    Longley, D., 1987, in Harris, B.E. and Thacker, A.T. (eds), VCH Cheshire Vol1 p83
    Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p12
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p68
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Ormerod, G., 1882 [2edn], History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol2 p2
• Journal Articles
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Vale Royal Borough Council: Ancient Monument No 22595 http://www2.valeroyal.gov.uk/internet/vr.nsf/AllByUniqueIdentifier/DOCB86FCDE77F9EC84D80256FA10038475C/$file/Monuments.pdf