MONUMENT NO. 111768

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Old Castle Of Dene. A Norman Ring Motte was excavated in 1958 when a possible watchtower was revealed. Finds included late 11th to early 12th century pottery indication a short period of usage. An iron key was also found. The ring motte is 70 metres in overall diameter. The bank averages 2.3 metres high measured from the interior and from 4 to 5 metres high measured from the bottom of the ditch. The ditch averages 10 metres wide at the top and is from 0.7 to 2 metres deep. Scheduled.

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(SO 67661349) Ancient Earthwork (NAT) (1)

The Norman ring-work known as Littledean Camp was excavated by Dr C Scott-Garrett and the Forest of Dean Local History Society in 1958. A rough floor of sandstone pitching was found in the interior, and an isolated part of the surounding bank to the west of the entrance was thought to have formed the base for a wooden watch-tower. The paucity of finds, which included an iron key dated to the late 11th or early 12th century and pottery of the first half of the 12th century, suggested a short period of occupation, and the site was taken to be that of the "Old Castle of Dene" mentioned in charters of Henry II. (2-3)

A ring motte, consisting of a strong circular bank of stone and earth, and an outer ditch. The interior, which is slightly above the natural ground level, shows no trace of any structure and is grass covered. The earthwork is approximately 70.0m in overall diameter. The bank averages 2.3m high measured from the interior, and is from 4.0m to 5.0m high measured from the bottom of the ditch. The ditch averages 10.0m wide at the top and is from 0.7m to 2.0m deep.

In the south-east quadrant there is a 4.0m wide gap in the ban and a causeway 9.0m wide at the bottom and 4.0m wide at the top, across the ditch. The earthwork is grass and tree covered and is in good condition. Slight mutilation in the northeast quadrant of the ditch is the result of earth digging. The motte is situated upon a hill-top with a commanding view of the Severn Valley. (4)

The 'old castle of Dene' probably applies to the hill fort at Welshbury (SO 61 NE 7) (5)

Earthwork (NR) (6)

Listed by Cathcart King. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1955

( 2a) General reference

Cartae Antiquae Rolls 11-20 p 133

( 2) D F Renn 1968 Norman Castles in Britain

1968 Page(s)227

( 3) Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society

(C Scott-Garrett) 77 - 1958 Page(s)48-60

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 08-APR-58

( 5) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 6) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 1:10 000 1978

(7) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

Page(s)182

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