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Summary

Early Iron Age hillfort, with single rampart & ditch, on end of ridge. Rectangular moat with outer rectangular enclosure inserted in western side.

Full Description

Mowsbury Hillfort is located on the south eastern tip of a long spur of chalky boulder clay to the north of Bedford. Archaeological evidence indicates two major phases of occupation - a univallate hillfort constructed in the Iron Age, and a medieval moated site adapted from and situated within the earlier ramparts. Fragments of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery had been reported from the site since the late 19th century but it had been thought to be a Danish camp, or possibly of prehistoric origin. Archaeological trenching in 1971-1972 confirmed the presence of a single ditch encircling the tip of the spur, and measuring approx 4.3m wide and 2m deep; it had been completely infilled, incorporating material from the internal bank. The bank had been supported by a timber framework which had burnt down, leaving clear impressions of the timbers in the semi-fired clay of the bank; a fragment of human skull was found in association with the destruction. Pottery found in association with the rampart indicates a construction date in the early Iron Age. Traces of a possible hut circle were also found in the form of a circle of cobbles. The complete outline of the perimeter forms a roughly oval plan measuring approx 290m by 200m.

The earthworks of the medieval settlement occupy the central and north western part of the hillfort. They include a rectangular moated enclosure orientated roughly east to west and measuring approx 110m by 80m, the south eastern quarter of which is taken up with a second moated island. The northern arm of the larger enclosure appears to have been adapted from the hillfort ditch. The southern arm is much more substantial, measuring up to 15m wide and 2.5m deep, and flanked by an external bank. The moats were fed by a narrow leat which enters the site from the north east corner. A second leat branches from the centre of the northern arm and extends towards a pair of small fishponds lying 20m from the north east corner of the main island. The inner pond is also thought to have been sited within the line of the hillfort ditch. Pottery of 12th and 13th century date has been found as surface scatters.

The medieval site has been identified with the manor of Morinsbury, mentioned in various documents before 1465. The name may have been retained as "Morsebury" - a 16th century field name, which included the area of earthworks and presumably devolved to the present name.

The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (NHLE 1015588).

BCC Photographic Unit, F1098/8-14 (Unpublished document). SBD10507.

Bedford Archaeological Society, List of moated sites, Dec 1972 (Unpublished document). SBD10794.

Bedford Archaeological Society, Newsletter 5, Oct 1973 (Unpublished document). SBD10794.

Bedford Museum, Accession no 1993/12 (Unpublished document). SBD10807.

Bedford Museum, Enquiry 1108 (Unpublished document). SBD10807.

Bedford Record, 21/9/1971 (Newspaper Article). SBD10568.

Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Vol 11, 1976, p 9 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10569.

Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Vol 5, 1970, p 124 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10569.

Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Vol 6, 1971, pp 68-69 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10569.

Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Vol 7, 1972, p 95 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10569.

Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Vol 8, 1973, pp 5, 10, 16 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10569.

Bedfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society, Vol 18, 1865, 152 (Article in serial). SBD10755.

Bedfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society, Vol 39, 1886, pp 169-171 (Article in serial). SBD10755.

Bedfordshire Times, 15/10/1971 (Newspaper Article). SBD10544.

Bedfordshire Times, 22/3/1903 (Newspaper Article). SBD10544.

Correspondence, Letter from D C King, 2/1/1973 (Unpublished document). SBD10802.

Correspondence, Letter from J F Dyer, 6/9/1971 (Unpublished document). SBD10802.

Correspondence, Letter from R Simms, Insp. Anc. Mons., 8/10/1964 (Unpublished document). SBD10802.

Dept. of Environment, Plan of geophys, March 1972 (Plan). SBD11037.

HER Slide Archive, 2852-2853 (Slide). SBD10508.

HER Slide Archive, 5069 (Slide). SBD10508.

D Baker, Notes, Sketch of trench, n.d. (1972?) (Unpublished document). SBD10833.

OS: TL 05, TL 05 SE 1 (Unpublished document). SBD10965.

English Heritage, SAM record form, No. 27192 (Scheduling record). SBD10803.

South Midlands Archaeology, Vol 16, 1986, pp 20-22 (Article in monograph). SBD10576.

1908, Victoria County History, Bedfordshire, Vol 1, p 307 (Article in serial). SBD10574.

1908, Victoria County History, Bedfordshire, Vol 3, pp 210, 212 (Article in serial). SBD10574.

C Gore Chambers, 1917, Bedfordshire, p 95 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10754.

Wadmore, 1920, Earthworks of Bedfordshire, pp 221-223 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10706.

1937, Bedfordshire Regional Planning Authority Report, p 188 (Unpublished document). SBD10783.

Viatores, 1964, Roman Roads in SE Midlands, p 274 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10737.

Bedford Borough Council, 1990, Beds Wildlife Working Group Manual of Wildife Sites and Species Protection, p 157 (Unpublished document). SBD10739.

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument 1015588: Mowsbury Hill: slight univallate hillfort and medieval moated site
• SHINE: Scheduled Monument; Hillfort and moated site at Mowsbury

Monument Type(s):

• BUILDING (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• HILLFORT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• POND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

• FBD473 - DAUB (Early Iron Age to Middle Iron Age - 800 BC to 101 BC)
• FBD5498 - HUMAN REMAINS (Early Iron Age to Middle Iron Age - 800 BC to 101 BC)
• FBD3735 - POT (Early Iron Age to Middle Iron Age - 800 BC to 101 BC)
• FBD5497 - POT (12th Century to 13th Century - 1100 AD to 1299 AD)

Associated Events

• EBD488 - Mowsbury Hillfort, Ravensden; Scoping Study (Ref: 2009/28)
• EBB1150 - MOWSBURY HILLFORT; Excavation
• EBB1151 - MOWSBURY HILLFORT; Watching Brief
• EBB1152 - MOWSBURY HILLFORT; Watching Brief

Sources and Further Reading

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