Bretby Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Breteby

In the civil parish of Bretby. In the historic county of Derbyshire (Modern Authority of Derbyshire, 1974 county of Derbyshire).

Stone castle built 1209 and licensed 1301. Probable fortified manor house, including moat and fishponds, demolished c1585. Site now confused traces of earthworks which suggest two courts with remains of a moat on the west side.
The published site of Bretby Castle falls on a low-lying platform overlooked by rising ground to the north and west. It is partially enclosed on these sides by the mutilated remains of a single ditch or moat. All traces of any defences on the south and east have been obliterated, and there is no evidence of any outworks. Three small rectangular enclosures at the southern end of the platform may constitute the sites of minor buildings. The whole site has been greatly disturbed by surface quarrying, and encroached upon by modern development. The impression gained, however, is of a single moated enclosure, and this in conjunction with a generally poor defensive position, implies a probable fortified manor house. (PastScape ref. Field Investigators Comments–F1 RWE 14-AUG-62)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SK29432312

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 922453
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular '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, or elsewhere.

• Web site links
  • http://bygonederbyshire.co.uk/articles/Bretby:_Early_lords_were_men_of_power_and_wealth
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern) p17
    Salter, Mike, 1993, Midlands Castles (Birmingham) p32
    Smith, Michael E., 1992, Castles and Manor Houses in and around Derbyshire (Derby)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p109
    Cox, 1905, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Derbyshire Vol1 p378-9, 397 [plan] http://www.archive.org/stream/victoriahistoryo01pageuoft#page/378/mode/1up
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p404
• 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 (1292-1301) p580
    Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) [lists sources for 1272-1422] p164-5