Zouches Manor facts for kids
Zouches Manor (sometimes called Zouches Castle) was an old manor house from the Anglo-Saxon times. It had a special ditch filled with water around it, called a moat. This manor was located in Fulbourn Fen, which is a protected natural area in the village of Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
Zouches Manor was one of the important Five Manors of Fulbourn. Records show it existed from 1066 AD until 1539 AD.
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Building Zouches Manor
The manor got its name from Alan la Zouche, who was an Earl from Brittany. He built the manor in the 13th century. It was built on a spot where an older building might have stood.
The moat ditch and the raised area where the manor sat were probably built in the 12th or 13th century. It's not completely clear who built the very first structure there.
How the Zouches Family Got the Manor
The Zouches family gained ownership of the land in 1230. This happened after a peace agreement with Brittany. Alan la Zouche, who was a viscount (a type of noble) of Rohan, gave his lands in Cambridgeshire to Roger la Zouch.
The Zouches family and the people who came after them continued to own Zouches Manor. They held it from the honor of Richmond. This continued into the 15th century. They paid a yearly rent of two gilt spurs (fancy golden spurs) for the land. After the year 1500, the way they owned the land changed to "knight service." This meant they had to provide military service instead of spurs.
What Was Dunmowes Manor?
Later, the manor came into the hands of the Dowcra family. At this point, it became known as Dunmowes Manor. Historians are not entirely sure if Zouches Manor and Dunmowes Manor were the exact same building. It's possible the Dowcra family built a new manor in the 16th century on the old site. The Dockra (or Dowcra) family had a long history in that area.
Dunmowes Manor got its name from a Norman family name, Dunmowe. This name comes from the old Saxon word Dommauua, which is like the modern English name Dunmall. The Domesday Book, a very old survey from 1086, recorded the Dunmowe family. It said they were Lords of the Manor of Dunmow. It's not clear if this meant Dunmowes Manor in Fulbourn or the villages of Great Dunmow and Little Dunmow in Essex, which are about 30 miles away.
Digging Up History at the Site
The site of Zouches Manor has been studied a lot by archaeologists. They dig up old objects and structures to learn about the past. This helps us understand more about how people lived there long ago.
Why Was the Location Important?
The place where Zouches Manor was built was very important. It controlled who could enter the village and the higher ground from The Fens. The Fens are a very flat, low-lying area.
The manor's location was probably chosen to help defend against attacks. For example, it could have protected against dangers during times like the First Barons' War in the 13th century. It also might have been important during battles between different groups. These groups included the Romano-British people (who lived to the south), the Anglo-Saxons (in East Anglia), and invaders like the Belgae and Normans.
