MONUMENT NO. 115590

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

Alleged site of manor house or castle, which has long been confused with Haresfield (AMIE NMR number SO81 SW7, 115599). The area consists of a large rectangular platform defined by slight scarps generally no more than 0.4 metres high. The platform, immediately south of the churchyard, measures at least 50 metres North to South by 25 metres. If it is a building platform it suggests more than merely peasant occupation. The millpond, and some fishponds in the close to the West, the existence of which is suggested by the field name 'Fishpond Orchard', have been largely filled in.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

(SO 83711036) Castle (NR) (Site of)
(SO 83651040) Moat (NR)
(SO 83751023) Moat (NR) (1)

There appears to be considerable confusion between Harescombe and Haresfield, possibly initiated by William Worcestre in 1480 and perpetuated and enlarged upon in the 19th. century. Worcestre's entry in his Itinerary is simply "Harescombe Castle, near Painswick, in the county of Gloucester". Harescombe was well off his route from Cirencester to Malmesbury and there is no reason to suppose he visited it.

Rudge notes that after the Fitz Allens Harescombe belonged to the Rous family who built the church in 1273, and to the Mills from 1360 until the mid 17th. cent. He states that "an old mansion, said to be the castle of the de Bohuns, was situated a little to the westward of the church. The materials were carried to Elmore for the purpose of building the court-house (SO 71 NE 5) in the reign of Elizabeth. The appearance of the moat etc, is still to be observed".

He considers the story may be apocryphal and if remains were removed they were probably from the Mills' house. He then says that there are neither remains nor a tradition of a castle at the de Bohuns manor of Haresfield; on both these counts he is incorrect, (see SO 81 SW 7).

Melland Hall, Rector of Harescombe, wrote a lengthy, well documented but seemingly muddled article. He shows that formerly Harescombe was a tithing of Haresfield and that Harescombe church was daughter to that at Haresfield. The castle at Harescombe was probably built in Stephen's time and was the residence of the FitzAllens who preceded the Rouse family. The castle was demolished possibly in the reign of Edward II. Hall also quotes Worcestre and the story of stone being taken to Elmore Court.

Both Harescombe and Haresfield were originally de Bohun property, the Harescombe tithing being leased. (2-4)

If the Fitz Allens built a castle in Stephen's time it would probably have been a motte, but there is no documentary evidence for this or for its slighting in the reign of Edward II. It is reasonable to
assume that a manor house or a succession of these existed at Harescombe.

There is no trace of a motte or any defensive work at Harescombe. The published 'Castle' site falls in a pasture field. Two or three small platforms probably represent depopulation though there is no trackway leading to the area. The sites of the Fitz Allen and Rouse houses are speculative. The two stretches of water described as "Moat" on the OS 25" are unimpressive and doubtful. The southernmost is a broad deeply cut watercourse, probably entirely natural, and the L-shaped stretch at the north end is little different though it may have been enlarged to form a pond for the local corn mill. (5)

The area of the supposed manor house was investigated as a student survey exercise in September 2001. There is a large rectangular platform defined by slight scarps generally no more than 0.4m high. The platform, immediately S of the churchyard, measures at least 50m N-S by about 25m transversely. If it is indeed a building platform it suggests more than merely peasant occupation. The millpond, and some fishponds in the close to the W, the existence of which is suggested by the field name 'Fishpond Orchard', have been largely filled in. (6)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1954

( 2) General reference

Itinerary William Worcestre 1969 287

( 3) General reference

Hist of Glos 1 1803 166-8 395 (Rudge)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

JM Hall 'Harescombe' TBGAS 10. 1885-6. 67-132 Page(s)72

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 03-MAR-70

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

Mark Bowden/6-Sept-2001/EH student survey exercise

RELATED MONUMENTS

+ / -

Monument Name/No

Resources

Description

THE MOUNT
HARESFIELD

Monument Pictures
Monument Maps
Monument Investigation
Monument Sources
EH Visitor Information

A moated site, known as The Mount, set on low-lying ground in the Severn Vale. A square moat encloses an island measuring approximately 50 metres by 4...

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
NMR
ViewFinder