QUEEN MARGARETS CAMP

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DESCRIPTION

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A Medieval moat and associated system of water management channels survive as earthworks. The moat measures circa 8 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep and completely encloses a roughly square island that measures circa 30 metres square. The land slopes away to the south towards an L-shaped pond and an elaborate system of ditches seem to have channelled water from the moat to the pond. The site is abutted by Medieval ridge and furrow (see SO 83 SE 125), which suggests that it is contemporary. The site's name comes from the battle of 1471 when Queen Margaret is said to have spent the night before the battle in this area.

DETAIL

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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[SO 89523143] Margaret's Camp motte & Bailey [NR] (1)

Queen Margaret's Camp, scheduled as a secular site, a five-sided earthwork, was probably dug after the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471), possibly as a grave-pit, possibly as a memorial of the Battle. (2,3)

The complex of earthworks known as 'Margaret's Camp', comprises a partially water-filled moat with an apparently contemporary enclosure annexed to its south and west sides. Running from the south east corner of the enclosure is an L-shaped gully incorporating a pond. This feature appears to be contemporary. The suggestion that this may be either a grave-pit or battle memorial seems most unlikely, nor is it a motte and bailey. A more probable explanation seems to be that this is a rather elaborate homestead moat.
Resurveyed at 1/2500. (4)

Additional detail visible. (5)

Listed as a rejected castle by Cathcart King. (7)

The Medieval moat and associated system of water management channels described above (1-7) are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. The moat measures circa 8 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep and completely encloses a roughly square island that is centred at SO 8952 3144 and measures circa 30 metres square. Water channels extend roughly concentric to the moat on its western and southern sides and a branch extending to their south-west appears to feed an L-shaped pond at SO 8945 3135. The site is abutted by Medieval ridge and furrow (see SO 83 SE 125 / 1453909), which suggests that it is contemporary. (8-9)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1954

( 2) General reference

Ancient Monuments in England and Wales, 1965 (MOW) Page(s)58

( 3) by Alfred H Burne 1951 The battlefields of England

Page(s)127

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ANK 10-MAY-66

( 5) Vertical aerial photograph reference number

OS/66019 005-006 21-APR-1968

( 6) Scheduled Monument Notification

07-JUL-1999

(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)185

(8) Vertical aerial photograph reference number

RAF 540/144 5050-5051 05-JAN-1949

(9) Vertical aerial photograph reference number

NMR MAL/67087 043-044 24-OCT-1967

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