The map of 1825 shows off the little moat (A) around the castle mound, the main moat (B), and the outer moat (C).

 

Within the area of the main moat there are two buildings in the top right hand corner. The lower of the two is the Wellhead cottage (D), the other is the old castle barn (E) (John Moore in 1809 writes that a 30 feet circular building was taken down to repair a castle barn. The castle barn as mentioned by John Moore has often be mistaken for the shippon barn (F), but here on this map the shippon barn is missing. It would stand to reason that the barn within the area of the main moat was eventually taken down and the materials used to build the shippon barn. An 1885 directory notes that the shippon barn is a modern building.

 

The area below the main moat (G), had been the location of the cress beds in the 1900's. This area may also have contained the castle's fish pond in line with the outgoing river (The photo is of the old cress beds. There are other examples around England where old manor ponds had been converted into cress beds during the Victorian times).

 

There is a gap between the pool of water to the left of the old cress beds. This at first may seem like a weakness in the defence of the moat. However, this area would have been very marshy and wet which is why it was really good for growing cress, also why it may have been the castle's ponds. The cress still grows sporadically within the moat area.

 

Below the location of the old cress beds is the recent addition of the jubilee field (H) created by the Bourne United Charities.

 

You will also see the perimeter of the castle and its manor which stretches from Manor Lane (I) to Baldock’s mill (J). This was originally a through road/lane. Manor Street (Manor Lane) would have contained dwellings from its main entrance at the northern/western end. The dwellings on the western side of the road probably went as far as the first sharp bend (K). There is a road which spurs off from this which headed south to Northorpe and Thurlby (L).

 

The gap in West Street (M) (the old registry office, also known as Saxonhurst) is in line with the northern entrance (N). This may have been an entrance into the manor at a later date. I believe Grimsthorpe castle has several entrances also, so not uncommon.

 

It is written by Peak's that Bourne had three principle wards (baileys). There was the inner Bailey within the inner moat. There was also an outer Bailey which may have been split in two, (P) and (Q).The western side (O) in modern terms is considered to be a Bailey, but equally it may have been a pomerium which acted as a buffer between the castle and the town.