The Gatehouse website record for Roxton Palaceyard Wood

In the civil parish of Roxton. In the historic county of Bedfordshire (Modern Authority of Bedfordshire, 1974 county of Bedfordshire).

The earthwork in Palaceyard Wood is similar to a Norman Motte and bailey except the level of the island is the same as the surrounding land. The central "Motte" area is separated from the surrounding baileys by a moat, the soil of which has been piled on the outer edges to form ramparts. The ditch of the outer enclosures is very slight. In the large enclosure there are two circular shallow depressions. (PastScape–ref. Dyer)
A circular moat circa 70 metres in diameter, situated in Palaceyard Wood. The arms, which are still waterfilled, vary from circa 6 metres to 12 metres wide. There is no trace of a structure within the level wooded interior. The overflow channel to the north is wide and may have been converted to a fishpond. The purpose of the ditches forming a U-shape to the north east of the moat is uncertain. Mr P C Bath, landowner, retains one of several stone roof tiles found circa 1946 in the enclosed area when replanting trees. Local tradition asserts that there was a monastic settlement here but the name "Palaceyard" suggests perhaps a Bishop's Manor House. (PastScape–ref. field investigators comment, 1975)
John de Kirkby, Bishop of Ely, held a manor in Roxton from 1270-90, but this was not part of the see and was at Chawston - not Palaceyard. The site is close to the boundary with the modern civil parish of Great Barford and may have been one of the manors of Great Barford.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL131544

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 362970
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 816 '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.

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

Please help me to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting me if you see errors or if you can add information.
I do acknowledge the help I get with this site.