A motte and bailey, later converted to a homestead moat. Known as "Cranmer's Mount" solely because Aslockton is Archbishop Cranmer's birthplace. (1)
6ft high Norman motte with 2 rectangular courts. The SE part of the motte has been mutilated by ballast digging. (2)
"Cranmer's Mound" and "Cranmer's Walk" formed part of the pleasure grounds of the manor house (Cranmer's birthplace 1489, see 01592). (3)
Indications of moat extending to SK 74504012. (4)
The earthworks are as described above. The ditch to the W of the moat occasionally holds water, but the remainder are permanently dry. A further feature on the E end appears to be part of the catchment works. No traces of former buildings are to be seen. (5)
Earthwork remains … The site is under pasture, and the most obvious position is the motte, surrounded by a shallow ditch but still standing some 4m high from the bottom of the ditch to its top. It is slightly misshapen, and the ditch seems to be cut in a square or rectangle rather than a circle. Eastwards from the mound lie what appear to be 2 banked enclosures, rectangular in shape, and aligned with the ditch of the mound. (6)
On Mr Marriott's estate may be traced several moats, islands, pleasure-grounds etc formerly belonging (to Bishop Cranmer)... Some of the former owners, or occupiers, ... have taken down a hill, which was thrown up by the Archbishop, on the summit of which, tradition says, he was wont to sit and survey the face of the country, and listen to the tunable bells at Whatton. (9)
See M1591 for earlier use as motte and bailey castle

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

Plan, Bawden D, 1977-8, SMR card

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

JAP 246/35

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

4 colour print, Fearn K, 10/09/2002

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

4 colour print, negs C13/5,6, SMR

<1> Allcroft AH, 1908, Earthworks of England, pp 405-6 (Monograph). SNT414.

<2> VCH, 1906, Notts, pp 305-6 (Published document). SNT1383.

<3> Thoroton Society, 1897, TTS, p 24 (Published document). SNT325.

<4> OS, Air photos (Aerial photograph). SNT983.

Other Refs: 68 030 106-7

<5> Seaman BH, 1972, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1251.

<6> Johnson JS, 1976, AM7 (Unpublished document). SNT842.

<7> Samuels JR, 1985, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT1230.

<8> Notts Historic Gardens Trust, 1995-1997, Notts Historic Parks and Gardens Files (Unpublished document). SNT4553.

<9> Throsby J, 1790, Thoroton's History of Notts Vol 1, p 264 (Published document). SNT1345.