CASTLE HILL

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

+ / -

An adulterine castle with motte and bailey. The earthworks comprise an oval ring motte with a smaller outer bailey to the north east and a possible further bailey, now much destroyed by quarrying to the north east. There are also outwork defences 300 metres to the north east. It has been suggested that this was the siege castle used against Downton in 1148.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

(SU 16661617) Castle Hill (NAT) Motte & Bailey (AT) (1)

An adulterine castle. (2)

The keep at the south-west end of the entrenchment, is surrounded on all sides, except the Avon, by a low bank. On the south-west side it is surrounded by a moat and outer bank
behind the modern farmhouse. A depression, most likely the well, is at the west corner of the keep. The bailey, north-east of the keep, is cut off by a bank & ditch; beyond this there are indications of another bailey. There is a tradition of stones having been taken from this site to build a chapel. (3)

An unusual earthwork comprising an oval ring motte with smaller outer bailey to the north-east and a possible further bailey, now much destroyed by quarrying, to the north-east again. The work is situated on the south-western end of a prominent spur
above the River Avon.

It is generally as described by Williams-Freeman; the supposed moat to the south-west of the farm-house may be an outer ditch but is more likely a hollow-way: it was never water-filled as it lies well above the river. Some 300 metres to the north-east of the motte, along the summit of the spur, is a fairly substantial cross-ridge bank some 26.0m in length and 12.0m wide and up to 1.4m in height, with traces of a ditch on its outer side. It is almost certainly an outer defence of the work.
Published 1/2500 revised. (4)

It is suggested that this work waa the siege castle built against Downton in 1148. (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1968

( 2) Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society

(J P Williams-Freeman) 13 - 1935-7 Page(s)234

( 3) General reference

Field Archaeology as Illus. by Hants 1915 368 plan (J.P.W-F)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FGA 28-APR-69

(5) The Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine

Creighton OH 93, 2000 Page(s)108

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