LOCKING CASTLE

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

+ / -

Earthworks of a motte and bailey on Carberry Hill. Excavations in 1902-3 located a small drystone chamber with a flight of steps in one corner. Finds recovered included pottery, coin and part of a sword. The motte and bailey was surveyed by Avon County Council in 1981. To the east of the castle was a very deep holloway, which predated the castle and formed the east boundary of the bailey. The west side was bounded by a 1.5 metre high bank with a slight external ditch which probably continued round the motte. The motte is situated to the southern end of the bailey and was only 2 metres high with a terrace half way, the upper part was presumably the remains of the building excavated in 1902-3. There is a local tradition that there was a windmill on the motte.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

[ST 36386087] Motte & Bailey [L.B.]. (1)

At Locking is a motte and bailey known locally as The Hills; it is sited on a hill called Carberry. The motte is only four feet high and has a partly filled ditch: to the north is a bailey with a bank 2-3 ft. high forming its west side.

An excavation in 1902-3 for the erection of a flag pole (Coronation of Edward VII), exposed a small chamber of drystone walling and rubble 9'4" square and 7 ft. deep: it had a flight of stone steps in one corner. Within the chamber were found fragments of an iron sword, a silver penny of Edward IV-V, nails, pottery sherds (some modern), burnt bones and a perforated bone. (2-5)

The defensive strength of a motte and bailey is dependent on the skillful utilisation of very steep natural slopes on the north and east.
The motte does not appear to have been completely surrounded by a ditch, and the remains of the building on its top are concealed beneath a grass covered, circular, mound.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)

Additional reference (7)

ST 3638 6087: Locking Castle earthwork was surveyed by R Iles 1981 in preparation for a site management plan by S Avon CC. (see illus card for survey).

The earthworks lie on an oval shaped knoll. To the E of the castle is a very deep holloway, predating it and forming the E boundary of the bailey. The W side is bounded by a 1.5m high bank with a slight external ditch which probably continued round the motte. The motte lies to the S end of the bailey and is only c.2m high with a terrace half way, the upper part is presumably the remains of a building excavated in 1902-3. There is a local tradition that there was a windmill on the motte (8)

Locking Castle shown on aerial photograph (9)

Listed by Cathcart King. (10)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1962.

( 2) General reference

Knight FA. 1902. Seaboard of Mendip, 383, 400.

( 3) Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Bath

49, 1904 Page(s)186

( 4) edited by William Page 1911 The Victoria history Somerset, volume two

The Victoria history of the counties of England 1907 edition Page(s)514

( 5) General reference

Burrow EJ. 1924. Earthworks and Camps of Somerset, 120

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F1 GHP 04-FEB-65

( 7) General reference

Burrow E. 1924. Ancient Earthworks and Camps of Somerset, 20-1

( 8) Bristol & Avon Archaeological Society Bristol & Avon archaeology

1, 1982 Page(s)53-54

( 9) General reference

Avon Sites and Monuments Record. 1984. The Past from the Air, 16

(10) 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

2 Page(s)443

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