John of Gaunts Hill, Sutton

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

John of Gaunt's Hill is an oval mound measuring 180 feet by 115 feet. The surrounding ditch is widest on the east and measures 48 feet across and 10 feet deep and the mound rises out of it to a height of 16 feet. Modern red roofing tiles are found a few inches below the surface on the south of the mound. It is possible that the mound has been occupied for gardening purposes as the Elizabethan manor house stood near it to the north (VCH). A superficially motte-like mound 62.0m. N-S by 36.0m E-W, 3.0m. in height, surrounded by a broad ditch 16.0-19.0m. win width, 1.5-3.0m. in depth. A probably original causewayed entrance on the W side leads into the flat summit of the mound. Original purpose uncertain but probably ornamental. The work has been somewhat spread and reduced by the plough, and is now under turf, with a golf green upon the mound (field investigators comments 1969). (PastScape)
The destruction of the landscape by a golf course makes reading this monument difficult. However seems rather complex for a simple prospect mound and not quite orientated to the house and, whilst clearly used as a garden feature, may well have an earlier origin. 200m NE of church in location entirely feasible for a manorial centre. On balance I favour this as a small motte and bailey.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL22104773

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 365897
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 510 '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, 2002, The Castles of The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern) p16
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p6
    Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1968, Bedfordshire and the County of Huntingdon and Peterborough p153
    Wadmore, Beauchamp, 1920, The Earthworks of Bedfordshire (Bedford) p173-5
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Goddard, A.R., 1904, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, H.Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Bedford Vol1 p300-1
• Journal Articles
  • Baker, D., 1982, 'Mottes, Moats and ringworks in Bedfordshire: Beauchamp Wadmore revisited' Château Gaillard Vol9-10 p35-54 [plan]
    Dyer, J.F., 1961-3, Bedfordshire magazine Vol8 p350