Monument record 0095401000 - E OF LITTLE KIMBLE CHURCH

Dimensions - Radius 2000cm, Height 450cm.
Plan Form - Subrectangular.
Flat topped mound. Summit 20m across. 1m below summit mound extends 20m SE. Enclosing ditch opens on to low-lying marshy ground to E of motte. Appears to have been altered (B1,B3-4).
Possible reference in charter of c.1250 granting Missenden Abbey land between castle & Walter de Mersa's land (B7).
Survey (B10).
Scheduled (B11).
Included in English Heritage's Monuments at Risk Register in 2011, 2015-2024. Condition described as 'Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems', the principal vulnerability was from extensive stock erosion, with the trend described as declining. In 2017 the trend was described as stable; in 2019 the pricipal vulnerability to the dam earthwork was described as 'collapse', with the trend described as 'improving'. In 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 the trend was described as 'declining'. In 2024 assessed as priority category B: Action/strategy agreed but not yet implemented (B12-22).




A Motte and Bailey at Little Kimble (at SP 82770639, from plan in 2). Only the motte, which appears to be considerably altered, is to be seen with any clarity. S of the motte are to be seen some traces of two enclosures, probably an inner and outer bailey. E of this is a partly obliterated moated site. Roman remains have been found on the site. (SP 80 NW 1. Nothing apparent on available RAF A/Ps (1950)) (B1 and B3).
A Motte with inner and outer Baileys with adjoining Homestead Moat, centred at SP 82760637. The Motte is some 40.0 m in overall diameter, and 4.5 m in height. The flat summit is 20.0 m across. 1.0 m below the summit, the mound extends a further 20.0 m to the SE. The enclosing ditch opens onto low-lying marshy ground to the E of the Motte. To the W, the Inner Bailey measures 50.0 m by 20.0 and is enclosed by a ditch which joins the Motte ditch at both ends. There are two causeways, but one of these is probably modern. Of the outer Bailey, only traces of the ditch and remains of an inner bank on the S side remain. An old silage pit probably represents the mutilated remains of the ditch on the N side. The Bailey measured about 70.0 m by 40.0 m. S of the Motte at SP 82790633 and separated from it by a pond bay is a sub-rectangular Md Homestead Moat, now dry, and measuring, overall, 50.0 m E-W by 25.0 m N-S. The arms are 10.0 m in width and up to 1.5 m in depth. They open out at the E end onto low-lying ground formerly flooded by means of the pond bay. Upon the island are quantities of 'Tudor' brick and roofing tile fragments. Resurveyed at 1:2500 (B23).
Listed by Cathcart King (B24).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.