The Gatehouse website record for Morley Moor Mound

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Morley House Farm; The Mound

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

Large mound surrounded by a water-filled ditch, has been interpreted as a medieval motte, although there is no trace of a bailey, it has also been suggested that it may be an ornamental feature. This monument is probably a Medieval motte, including a flat -topped conical mound surrounded by a 6 to 9m wide water-filled ditch which is crossed by a causeway on the south east side. (PastScape)
The mound clearly shows signs of being altered with a spiral path to the top but the location, at other end of village from church, is not untypical of a medieval manorial centre and this does seem to have started as a motte, although the lack of a bailey suggests mainly a symbolic mound, showing the knightly status of the lord of the manor. The surrounding, water filled, ditch may be defensive or merely represent obtaining the soil to build the mound from the closest possible location. Suggestions this was a 'watch tower' for Horsley castle (Pritchard) have to address the question of how such a watch would be manned and funded.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SK39194099

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 313623
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.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
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