CASTLE HILLS

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A 17th century house is situated on the site of a moated manor-house. Alleged site of a castle built by Nigel de Albain.

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[SP 1766 8213] Castle Hills on Site of [TI]
CASTLE [GT]: MOAT [GT] (1)

Castle Hills Farm, Bickenhill, is an L-shaped 17thc. house. The gabled wing projecting at the south end of the east front retains much of its original timber-framing, but the remainder is mostly of later red brickwork. A central chimney-stack has two diagonal shafts. Two ponds east and south of the house are remains of a moat. (2)

Near to the farmhouse "Castle Hills", is the site of the castle built by Nigel de Albain, or Roger de Mowbray.

Foundations are here and there indicated by a slight elevation of the surrounding surface and there are traces of a moat. Probably reduced temp. Henry II and perhaps became the mansion of one of the Ardens. In an inquisition taken 4 Edward I, one of the parks belonging to Wm. de Arden, about a mile and a quarter distant from Hampton Church 'towards Elmedon', was situated here, but no reference is made to a castle. (3)

Castle Hills Farm is of no architectural importance. No surface evidence of foundatiions of an earlier building were seen.Published survey (1/2500 1953) revised. (4)

Castle Hills farmhouse is as described by Hubbard (2) and is not outstanding (see photograph).

A pond on the south side of the farmhouse, which is 70.0m in length, 8.0m in width, and which is at the present time almost dry, may be the south arm of a homestead moat, but there are no traces of any continuation to the east or west of the house.
1:2500 AM revision of 20.6.67 still correct. (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1902. 1938.

( 2) edited by William Page and J W Willis-Bund 1924 The Victoria history of the county of Worcester: volume four

The Victoria history of the counties of England (C.E.B. Hubbard). 1947 Page(s)35

( 3) General reference

'Forest of Arden' 1894 211 (J. Hannett).

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JB 20-JUN-67

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F2 ASP 01-JUL-76

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