STRENSHAM CASTLE

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The earthwork remains of a castle and moat crenellated in 1388. The site was garrisoned in the civil war by the Royalists. Earthworks resembling artillery emplacements on bastions at each corner of the moat probably date from this period, though it has been suggested that these are later garden features. The castle was slighted after the fall of Worcester in 1646. Two concentric moats and a intermediate rampart survive as earthworks. In the field (Church Fields) immediately to the north of the moat the earthwork remains of medieval ridge and furrow can be seen on aerial photographs taken in April 2007 by english Heritage.

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[SO 90464048] Castle [LB] (Site of) (1)

The site of Strensham Castle, crenellated in 1388 and said to have been destroyed in the Civil War. No masonry is visible, but the surrounding earthworks are in excellent condition, consisting of two concentric moats with intermediate ramparts. To the west lies Moat Farm, supposed to have been the gateway. (2)

The earthworks are as described in 2. There is also a string of three fish ponds along a stream flowing past the east side of the outer moat. Resurveyed at 1/2500. The suggestion that Moat Farm was the gateway seems unlikely. The present Farmhouse and buildings appear to be 19th c. and later. (3)

Moat Farmhouse, Grade II. (4)

Strensham castle consists of an inner rectangular island 42m x 33m surrounded by water. This is further elaborated by an encompassing central bank and an external pond and bank. The W half of the site and all of the island has recently been clearedby Mr Gilder of Moat Farm. On the island this has revealed a number ofrectangular hollows and short runs of stone wall lines. Also on the intermediate bank, corresponding to the modern access onto the island fragments of a stoney surface and short lengths of walls were visible perhaps indicating the position of the original entrance.

The form of the central bank is of considerable interest. It may either represent a remodelling of the medieval Castle or be entirely post-medieval in origin. The most striking features of this bank are the corners, pulling out to form arrowhead bastions, this is most marked to the W. In addition, on all sides except to the W, the bastions are linked by low banks close to the waters edge.

Externally to the N and E the outer pond is surrounded by a bank 14m in width. To the E the stream valley has been utilised to create a series of three ponds, now partly encroached upon by ploughing from the E.

The form of the central bank is clearly mimicking that of a post- medieval artillery fort. The topographic situation of the castle being entirely overlooked from the E would argue against a military origin for this feature. A more convincing explanation is that it was created as part of an ornamental remodelling of the castle in combination with the three ponds to the E.

Associated with the ponds are two drains surviving as earthworks to the W. See also SO 94 SW 25. (5)

Scheduled. (6)

Listed as a castle by Cathcart King. (7)

In the field (Church Fields) immediately to the north of the moat described above, the earthwork remains of medieval ridge and furrow can be seen on aerial photographs taken in April 2007 by english Heritage. (8)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1955

( 2) edited by William Page and J W Willis-Bund 1924 The Victoria history of the county of Worcester: volume four

The Victoria history of the counties of England (Montgomerie) Page(s)202, 433

(3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 D Smith, 17-Nov-1965

( 4) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) Rural District of Pershore, Here & Worc 03-AUG-72 Page(s)227

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F2 WDC 04-OCT-89

( 6) Scheduled Monument Notification

07-JUL-1999

(7) David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands

Page(s)507

(8) Oblique aerial photograph reference number

NMR SO 9040/2 NMR 24600/1 18-APR-2007

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