If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Substantial medieval motte & bailey castle, with subsidiary enclosures and fishponds

Full Description

The site lies on the south side of the valley of the River Flitt and comprises a motte and bailey castle, associated moated site with fishponds, and part of a field system. The motte mound utilises a natural sand outcrop, and rises approx 15m above the floodplain, it is approx 60m diameter at the base, with a flat area 10m diameter at the top. To the south, east and west of the motte lie the three irregular-shaped baileys, separated from the motte by a ditch axeraging 10m wide and 3m deep. The western bailey is thought to be the earliest, and its north western side has been damaged by later quarrying; about two-thirds of its interior survive, measuring 70m by 60m, and 7m below the top of the motte. It is separated from the south bailey by a bank 1m high and 10m wide, and a ditch 16m wide and 3m deep. The south bailey is roughly crescent-shaped, approx 120m by 40m, and 2m below the level of the west bailey. On its south side is a bank 8m wide, rising 1.5m above the interior of the bailey, and on the outer edge sloping down 4m to the base of a 20m wide ditch. The east bailey measures 80m by 30m and slopes down from west to east ; it is divided from the south by another ditch, 15m wide and 5m deep, thought to have been part of the castle entrance.

The castle lies at the eastern end of a large field, 520m by 320m, which contains earthworks indicating the remains of a medieval manorial site thought to have succeeded the castle. A series of irregular enclosures are marked by field boundary ditches averaging 7m wide by 0.5m deep; they are truncated to the south and east by a modern road, and to the west by quarrying, and an area of 170m by 140m in the centre of the field has also been quarried. To the south west of the field centre is a square enclosure measuring 80m across, thought to be a moated site and the location of the manor house. The moat has been partly infilled, but part of the western arm has been adapted as a cattle-pond. The interior of the moat is divided into two by an east-west bank.

To the north of the site is a series of dried-up fishponds. At least four oval or rectangular ponds are visible, averaging 10m wide, and between 22m and 34m long, and a square pond 20m across with a central island.

Small excavations in 1973 located metalled road surfaces in the vicinity of the castle entrance, and medieval drainage works. The trenches also confirmed that the motte was built on a natural hill.

The manor of Cainhoe is mentioned in the Domesday Book, held by Nigel d'Albini, who probably built the castle. The manor is described in 1272 as a well-appointed hall, with a dovecot, garden and stables. This probably refers to the square moated site rather than the castle itself. It is not known whether the castle was fortified in stone or was a timber stockade. The manor passed throguh the Dakeney family and in 1374 to the King, by which time it was in a dilapidated state. It was subsequently abandoned in favour of Cainhoe Manor Farm, and by the 16th century there appear to have been no surviving buildings.

The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (No 20440).

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument 20440: Cainhoe Castle: a motte and bailey with associated moated site, fishponds and field systems
• SHINE: Scheduled monument, earthwork remains of a medieval castle, Cainhoe Castle

Monument Types

• BUILDING (11th Century - 1000 AD to 1099 AD)
• DITCH (11th Century - 1000 AD to 1099 AD)
• GATEHOUSE (11th Century to 14th Century - 1000 AD to 1399 AD)
• STABLE (11th Century to 14th Century - 1000 AD to 1399 AD)
• CASTLE (Medieval to 14th Century - 1066 AD to 1374 AD)
• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MANOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• ROAD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• DOVECOTE (13th Century to 14th Century - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
• QUARRY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• SAND PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• FBD5335 - BLADE (2) (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
• FBD5336 - CORE (2) (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
• FBD3711 - FLAKE (3) (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
• FBD5334 - SCRAPER (TOOL) (4) (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
• FBD3709 - ANIMAL REMAINS (Small quantity) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD3708 - HORSESHOE (2) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD5337 - OX SHOE (1) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD3710 - DAGGER (15th Century - 1450 AD to 1499 AD)

Associated Events: None recorded

Sources and Further Reading

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.