Overhall Grove

• Knapwell, Cambridgeshire.
• OSGB – TL 33673 63152 & TL 33940 63234

Medieval moated site and motte. The mound measuring 80 ft in diameter, 30-40 ft across at the top and standing 6 ft high with the ditch measuring 20-30 ft wide and wet. The causewayed entrance to the south west is 10 ft wide. There is another possible enclosure to the north and west with a bank measuring 15 ft wide and 1-2 ft high. The moat is enclosed by an irregular banked enclosure measuring approximately 541 ft by 698 ft.

11 -14 C                      Occupied.

1200                            Owned by Henry.

1205                            Henry of Boxworth held the site through marriage to Alice of Canington.

1223                            c: Henry died.

1235                            Henry was succeeded by his son, William of Boxworth.

1246-1254                   William was Escheator of Cambridgeshire.

1268                            c: William died.

1279                            William’s widow, Amice, and her son, Henry, held the lands.

1296                            Henry was knighted.

1302                            Henry died and Parnell held the lands.

1316-1327                   Henry’s son, William of Boxworth was Lord of the Manor.

1332                            c: Passed to Henry’s son, Henry.

1372                            After: Henry died.

1382                            Held by Henry’s widow, Maud, as his son, William, had died without issue.

1374                            Inherited by William’s sister, Alice.

1388                            Owned by William Lovett, who had married Alice.

1408                            William Lovett held the manor.

1428                            William Lovett held the manor.

1438                            Held by Roger’s widow, Isabel.

1468                            Passed to Roger Lovett of Soulbury

1480                            Referred to as Overhall.

1496                            Roger Lovett sold it to trustees for Lady Margaret Beaufort.

1501                            Archdeacon of Lincoln’s Chancery Clerk, Thomas Hutton, bought it for his brother, John.

1506                            Thomas, John’s son, inherited the lands.

1552                            Thomas died and it was inherited by his son, John.

1596                            John died and left it to his second wife, Elizabeth.

1599                            Elizabeth and her new husband, Sir William Hinde sold it to Sir John Cutts of Childerley.

1600                            No building on site.

1650                            Trees covered the site.

1900                            c: Site discovered.

1929                            Excavated.