Sharnbrook Castle Close

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Gibbards Wood; Tricket Bury

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

A sub-circular earthwork comprising a ditch with inner bank situated at SP 98915955 within a wood named Castle Close. It measures overall c 62.0m NE-SW by 53.0m transversely. The ditch, being more prominent than the bank, is 8.0m average width and c 1.4m average depth, though it is deeper and wider around the SE are which is water-filled. The bank is spread, but is c 1.2m high above the interior which is raised c 0.4m above the surrounding ground. No entrance is apparent, though there is a slight lowering of the bank on the N side. The purpose and date of the earthwork cannot be established, but is has medieval ringwork characteristics and is similar to other unclassified works (eg Suffolk (Burgate Wood TM 0775 and Cromwell's Plantation TM 0471)) where random finds of C12/C13 pottery have been made. (PastScape)
In spite of the name ‘Castle Close’ the earthwork is not the remains of a mediaeval castle. It is in fact a moated site probably built between the 12th and 14th centuries. The moat was more likely to have been dug as a status symbol around a prestigious home or farmstead with a range of buildings, rather than as a defensive fortification. Bedfordshire has the highest density of moats of any county in England. There are records of 297 moated sites in the county of which 174 have been wholly or largely destroyed. Moats can be found throughout Bedfordshire but they are most common in clay areas because it is easier to build moats that will hold water in that geology. Typically moats in Bedfordshire are simple rectangular enclosures, there are only four other circular moats besides Castle Close. Not much is known about the history of the earthwork. There is no direct evidence for its construction or use. The first reference we have to it is in a document of 1617 when it is referred to as Castle Close. Closes are small parcels of enclosed land usually found near settlements. Even at this date the earthworks were recognised as a significant and unusual feature. During the Middle Ages Tofte Manor was owned by the Tricket family, a holding which can be traced back to the Domesday Book when it was held by Robert, son of Rozelin. It is known that the Tricket family had a manor house in Sharnbrook, Tricket Bury, referred to in a document of 1202. It is possible that Castle Close could be the site of Tricket Bury. (Anon pdf of leaflet on sharnbrookonline.co.uk)
Clearly the moat is more significant than the bank and the site has more in common with moated sites than ringwork castles. However, if in existence in 1202 then may well represent some form of 'transisition' between ditched ringwork embankments and square manorial moats.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP98915955

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 346802
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 994 '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.sharnbrookonline.co.uk/pages/history/CC_Update.pdf
• Books
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1912, 'Parishes: Sharnbrook', VCH Bedford Vol3 p88-94 [manorial history http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42388]