Moorhall
Early-attested site in the Parish of Whissendine
Historical Forms
- le Morhalle 1325 Ipm 1377 Cl
- Morehall 1410,1543 FF
- Moorhall 1704 Recov 1748 Terrier
Etymology
MOORHALL (lost), le Morhalle 1325 Ipm, 1377 Cl, Morehall 1410, 1543FF , Moorhall 1704Recov , 1748Terrier ; 'the hall on moorland', v. hall , mōr 1 . The rectangular earthworks of this medieval manor house are in the north-east of the parish, only a half-mile from the county boundary, in the field now called The Pound (v. f.ns. (a) infra ). Marshy moorland is an abnormal site for a manor house.Although in a low-lying position, the fortification may have originated as a north-western defensive border stronghold of the Anglian kingdom of Rutland. This was possibly paralleled in the north-east by a stronghold on the site of the later castle at Essendine whose position also appears to be related to the frontiers of Rutland.