Hob's Moat, 60m north of Castle Lane, Medieval moated site in Solihull, England
Hobs Moat is a medieval fortified site in Solihull with a circular earthwork made up of a wide ditch, rampart, and counterscarp bank surrounding a rectangular platform. A reinforced manor house once occupied this central area, though nothing of the building remains above ground today.
The de Odingsells family built this defensive structure in the 12th century as part of their manor of Ulverli after receiving royal approval. The earthwork served as both residence and stronghold for several generations of this local family.
The name shifted from 'Odingsells Moat' to 'Hobs Moat' over time, showing how local speech changed through the generations. People in the area used this site continuously, shaping the way they spoke about it in their daily lives.
The site sits 60 meters north of Castle Lane and is easy to locate by following this road. Trees planted in the 1780s now cover the area, so wear sturdy shoes when exploring the earthwork and its uneven ground.
Digs between 1985 and 1986 uncovered remains of medieval buildings and a collapsed 13th-century sandstone wall within the site. These findings offer rare insight into how the medieval inhabitants built and lived within this fortified space.
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