Moated grange and enclosure at Owston from the air

aerial photograph of the Moated grange and enclosure at Owston, Leicestershire, England, UK. Locally referred to as Oliver Cromwell's Castle, there is no actual evidence of a connection to the "Lord Protector". The site is actually a Monastic Grange which was a type of farm used from the 12th to 16th century intended to provide food for the Monastery to which it was attached, in this case Owston Abbey. The fact that this grange has a large water filed moat shows both the wealth and importance of the monastery but also the insecurity of the occupiers in a time when theft and violence were common.