VERDLEY CASTLE

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DESCRIPTION

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Earthworks and masonry remains of a probable 13th century hunting lodge, ruined in the 16th century. The topography of the site means that it could not have been moated, but the thickness of the walls suggest that the building may have been fortified.

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[SU 9036 2581] Verdley Castle [G.T.] (Site of) [T.I.] (1)

Verdley Castle was possibly once a 13th century hunting tower and became ruined in the 16th century. Remains possibly of the keep existed in the 19th century partly surrounded by a moat. The foundations were dug out about 60 years ago. (2-4)

Plan (copy attached) (5)

Foundations measure 68' by 33', the walls are 6' thick without buttresses. The enclosing swampy ground suggests a former moat. (6)

The site of the building, marked by humus-covered mounds of rubble and random blocks of sandstone, is at SU 90352579, upon a small sand plateau on the lower northern slope of Henley Hill. A small stream flows either side giving marshy ground below the site. Above on the SW side are steeper wooded slopes.

The ground is so contoured that the site could never have been moated. Site resurveyed at 1:2500 (7)

Listed as a possible castle by Cathcart King. (8)

The site lies within a coniferous plantation and is mainly under mature trees. There are no obvious, visible remains of a building or building platform. Recent forestry activities, including the removal of young birch trees growing around the conifers, has disturbed the ground quite heavily in places, as has animal burrowing (possibly badgers). Scattered fragments of red brick and greenish-grey, West Country slate found in the disturbed top soil provide some evidence of a former building, although it should be noted that records suggest the medieval building was stone-built.
Scheduling is not recommended. (9)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1961

( 2) General reference

Parks and Forests of Sussex 1885,p. 210 (W.S. Ellis)

( 3) General reference

Castles of England, Vol. 1 1897, p.89 (J.D. Mackenzie)

(4a) General reference

Fernhurst, 1934, p.22 (A.M. Tudor)

( 4) edited by L F Salzman 1953 The Victoria history of the county of Sussex, volume four : the Rape of Chichester

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)55

( 5) Sussex County Magazine

Sussex County Magazine 8 338 8 Page(s)338

( 6) Sussex Archaeological Society Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East and West Sussex

Plan & elevations 12, 1860 Page(s)265

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ASP 02-JUN-70

(7) 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

Page(s)474

(9) English Heritage Alternative Action Report

MPPA: Ros Parker. Site Visit: 3/Jun/1996.

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