MONUMENT NO. 205258

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DESCRIPTION

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Alleged Iron Age Beacon and Medieval Castle - natural feature

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(ST 73679802) Beacon (NR) (1)

Camp (NR) Beacon (NR) (2)

The almost level spur of Drakestone Point is broken by a series of banks, with ditches facing Stinchcombe Hill, extending over a distance of 180 feet where the width is only about 30 feet. At the NE end two banks, with their medial ditch, curve back on each side into the hillside; elsewhere the banks and ditches are straighter, although bank M-N broadens considerably at its east end. A small mound, possibly a barrow, about 20 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, with a central depression now occupied by a seat, stands between P and Q. A small oval depression about 18 inches deep lies near point F on the edge of ditch G.

Baker believed the earthworks to be a beacon communicating between the Iron Age forts of the neighbourhood, of which he names nine, while Renn suggests that it is the site of the castle built by Roger de Berkeley in AD 1153 after his loss of Berkeley Castle (See ST 79 NE 21 for an alternative site). (3-5)

The earthworks at Drakestone Point occur on a spur of oolite and comprise about six lateral 'trenches'. These bear no resemblance to a hillfort and according to the Geological survey are a series of nataural "gulls", and not a 'Camp' as published on the OS 25".

The situation at the end of the spur affords excellent views over
the Severn Vale, but while there may have been such things as IA Beacons something more tangible is required before we can accept one here. (6)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1889

( 2) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1955

( 3) Annotated Record Map

Corr 6" (Marjorie Crook 1926)

( 4) Society of Antiquaries of London Archaeologia : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

T J L Baker 19, 1821 Page(s)166

( 5) by Derek Renn 1973 Norman castles in Britain

Page(s)180

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F1 MJF 08-FEB-71

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