Oaksey Manor

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Wrockeseye

In the civil parish of Oaksey. In the historic county of Wiltshire (Modern Authority of Wiltshire, 1974 county of Wiltshire).

Earthworks 'suggestive of a castle' may be identified with an early C19 description of earthworks south of Oaksey church. These comprised a square enclosure formed by a deep moat and embankment with a large mound in the north east angle, several other square enclosures and, some distance away, another mound. Aubrey in C17 mentions ruins of an old house and chapel adjoining the churchyard. Field investigation in 1968 noted that the only earthworks appeared to be small Medieval garden plots, bounded to the south and west by rig and furrow. Earthworks of a possible Medieval building platform, probable Medieval enclosure, possible Medieval field system and possible drainage system were identified on air photographs. (PastScape)
Site of a large manor house of the Earl of Hereford, whih was granted a licence to crenellate in 1347. In C15 it had a hall and east tower, a solar on the west, 8 rooms to the south, and a 9th room with domestic services on the north. Both hall and towrer were roofed with lead, other roofs being slte. The house had 2 chapels internally with a third in the precincts. There was a farmstead nearby. The house was demolished in 1593. (PastScape–ref VCH)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is ST99279339

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 212840
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is ST99SE453 '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://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/smr/getsmr.php?id=5528
• Books
  • Crowley, D.A., 1991, VCH Wiltshire Vol14 Malmesbury Hundred p179 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=116151
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p415
• Journal Articles
  • Creighton, O.H., 2000, 'Early Castles in the Medieval Landscape of Wiltshire' Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine Vol93 p111
    Meyrick, O., 1951-2, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine Vol54 p227
    Jackson, J.E., 1867, 'Ancient chapels and churches in the county of Wiltshire' Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine Vol10 p298-9
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1345-48) p450