LEWISHAM CASTLE

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DESCRIPTION

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Ringwork. Overall diameter 68m. The earthwork is strongest at the South-West (uphill) weakening towards the North-East quadrant where the outer ditch is ploughed out. The bank platform at SU24347386, suggests a mound that has been overthrown inwardly, exposing much of the flint content. Flints are prolific over the site and its surrounds. The site occupies a position at the head of a small coombe, and below the adjacent ridge. This does not altogether support the view of a purely military site, but suggests the re-use of a pre-existing pastoral feature such as that in Blakes Copse (SU 27 SE 10). It is well-situated to have functioned as a hunting lodge. Scheduled.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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(SU 24377385) Lewisham Castle (NR) (1)

A circular univallate enclosure of one acre, with outer ditch (2) (See plan (3)). Visited by Grinsell in 1949, who recorded "great quantities of flint nodules in the interior." Iron arrowheads were found prior to 1855 (4) near the enclosure, and numerous fragments of Medieval pottery have been found there by O Meyrick (5).

Tradition prevalent as late as the 1870's associated the name 'Lewisham' with Louis the Dauphin, who held Marlborough Castle in 1216. Brentnall suggests that this may have been one of his outposts. (2-5)

"The site is well-preserved. It is of the ring type: a circular
bank with an external ditch, with part of the bank supporting a
platform for the motte. From this platform a layer of flints
protrudes." (6)

As generally described by Auth (2) and (6). Overall diameter 68m. The earthwork is strongest at the SW (uphill) weakening towards the NE quadrant where the outer ditch is ploughed out.
The bank platform at SU24347386, suggests a mound that has been overthrown inwardly, exposing much of the flint content. Flints are prolific over the site and its surrounds.

The site occupies a position at the head of a small coombe, and below the adjacent ridge.

This does not altogether support the view of a purely military site, but suggests the re-use of a pre-existing pastoral feature such as that in Blakes Copse (SU 27 SE 10). Published 1:2500 survey revised.

Locally known as Lewisham Castle, but apparently on OS authority. (7)

Meyrick's finds,sited to SU244738,consist of 38 Medieval sherds
and 1 intrusive Romano-British sherd. Devizes Museum
1984.100.66A.(8)

The earthwork is classed as a ringwork type castle in authority
(9).
(See also SU27SW33.)

Scheduled Monument National Number 30286. (10)

Listed by Cathcart King. (11)

It is suggested that the work originated as a hunting lodge, being suitably located for the administration the surrounding chase and the accomodation of hunting parties. (12)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1960

( 2) edited by R B Pugh and Elizabeth Crittall 1957 A history of Wiltshire: volume 1, part 1

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)261

( 3) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 4) The Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine

F A Carrington 2, 1855 Page(s)126-9

( 5) The Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine

H C Brentnall 51, 1945-7 Page(s)472-3

( 6) Council for British Archaeology : Group 12 (Wessex) & Group 13 (South West) : Archaeological review

(B & R Phillips) 4 - 1969 Page(s)58

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JWS 18-JAN-73

( 8) SU 27 SW 9 (Lewisham Castle) (1973)

( 9) The Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine

81, 1987 Page(s)12

(10) Scheduled Monument Notification

Schedule amendment 29-May-2001

(11) 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)498

(12) The Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine

93, 2000 Page(s)108

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