Mound, N of church, Eardisland.
SMR NO. 1683 GRID REF: SO 4207 5858
Eardisland comes from the Old English 'Earl's Lene' which means 'the Earl's land', the earl being Earl of Morcar. (Herefordshire Place Names - Copleston-Crow, BAR British Series 214, 1989)
The larger of the 2 mounds at Eardisland is 40 yards to the north of the church and south of the River Arrow.
Description of the site today.
This moated mound, probably a castle mound, is about 49yds in diameter rising 3m above the moat level. The proportions of the mound cannot firmly place it as a motte but the top (22m across) is large enough to have taken a shell keep.
The moat is fed by a cutting from the River Arrow less than 100m away to the north. A causeway crossed the moat on the northwest, however this no longer exists and access to the mound is difficult. There is no trace of a bailey, but one could have existed and may have extended as far as the church road to the west and southwest. Fish can be seen swimming in the stagnant motte today. |
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Foundation and history of the site.
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1086: According to the Domesday Survey Eardisland was worth £12 (£6 pre 1066) and was held by the Earl of Morcar from the King. 1236: Eardisland was held by the de Braose family who were responsible for building the castle. It later became one of the possessions of the Mortimers. 1650: Silas Taylor writes, ‘there is on the north side of ye churchyard an old moated hall, was the seat of the Pembridges to have been.’ |
| © Paul Wood |