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CASTLE HILL

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Earthworks said to have enclosed a mound-variously alleged to be an Iron Age hillfort, Roman camp and a moated medieval motte or hunting lodge. Wooden foundations and medieval finds were discovered in 1933. The site has been quarried away.

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[SK 74108061] ROMAN CAMP [G.S.]
Site of Mound (roman Coins Etc. found) [T.I.]
[Centred SK 74088064] Ancient Earthworks [T.I.] (1,2)

The earthworks at Castle Hill are classified as a hill fort with a
later moat (3).

Piercy (4) describes the site as a 'castle on a mount, which appears to have been surrounded by a double trench ... having the entrance to the south-east,' and called Little Gringley Castle on old county maps. Foundations surrounded by a moat could be traced south-east of this mound. These were probably the stone foundations of a wooden super-structure excavated later (5) when green glazed medieval pottery and a coin of Alexander III of Scotland (1249-1286) were found.
Comparison with the Kingshaugh earthworks (SK 77 SE 6) suggests that the Grove earthworks may also represent a hunting lodge. King John is known to have stayed at Gringley in 1207, (6) but this may be Gringley on the Hill (7). (3-7)

Castle Hill has been extensively quarried, the former workings now being flooded, no certain indications of early archaeological features could be noted, although early roads, - probably contemporary with the quarrying - can be distinguished on the north shoulder and flank of the hill, the roads themselves enclose small fields.

Castle Hill has previously been classified as 'hill-fort', 'moat' and 'Roman Station', none of these could be substantiated. There is no similarity to the moated site at Kingshaugh as previously suggested (authy.6). (8)

No change. Local and County museums have no knowledge of the finds as published c.1916. (9)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1916/47

( 2) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1956

( 3) edited by William Page 1906 The Victoria history of the county of Nottingham: volume one

The Victoria history of the counties of England (W. Stevenson) 1906 Page(s)294

( 4) General reference

History of Retford 1828, 220-1 (J.S. Piercy)

( 5) General reference

Retford Times 1.9.33

( 6) General reference

Description of the Patent Rolls. 1835. (T.D. Hardy)

( 7) English Place-Name Society : the survey of English place-names [county volumes]

(Gover, Maws & Stenton). 17 - 1940 Page(s)30-1

( 8) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FDC 27-FEB-62

( 9) Field Investigators Comments

F2 FDC 28-MAY-74

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