BARTON COPSE

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DESCRIPTION

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A roughly square enclosure defined by a bank and ditch, which may be the site of a motte and bailey. It is probably of mid 12th century date.

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(Centred SU 62003807). A little earthwork in Barton Copse, Wield, is at the edge of the oak copse in the bottom of a hollow which runs out westwards.
It is roughly a square of c.50 yards bounded by a bank standing at most c.2 feet above the area and 3 feet above the bottom of the ditch. On the north face the ditch seems more marked along the inside of the bank; on the west the present hedge bank seems to be the original boundary of the enclosure. On the north side there are some flints along the bank which rather suggest a wall. There is no obvious original approach or entrance. It is just on the edge of the clay. It seems likely that the enclosure has to do with the Barton of the place-name.
(not classified or shown on end-map). (1)

In a wood at some distance from Wield is the site of a destroyed house known as the Castle. It was probably a house of the Wallop family, but nothing of it now remains, its masonry having been, according to local report, carried off for building material in the village. (Parish of Wield in the Hundred of Fawley). (May possibly apply to this site, but see also SU 64 SW 16, traditional site of 'Hurst Castle', situated about 250m. outside the parish boundary of Wield). (2)

Nothing identifiable with the description by Authy.1 was seen in perambulation of Barton Copse. The ground is uneven and in the south of the area demarcated the wood has grown beyond the boundary bank and ditch marking its former west side. This bank and ditch has a profile similar to that described by Williams-Freeman. (3)

A motte and bailey type earthwork close to the right of way between Wield church (SU 63 NW 5) and Godsfield (SU 63 NW 7). Well defined walls suggest a date of mid - C12th. (4)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) General reference

Field Archaeology as illustrated in Hampshire, (1915), 299, 422. (Williams-Freeman)

( 2) edited by William Page 1908 The Victoria history of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, volume three

The Victoria history of the counties of England 1908 Page(s)347

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 WCW 04-NOV-56

( 4) General reference

Hants. Treasures, E. Hants. Dist. N., 1977, 142.

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