Square medieval moated enclosure of Gannocks Castle, with mound in NE corner. Scheduled Monument.
The site comprises the remains of the medieval moated enclosure of Gannocks Castle. The moated site is rectangular in form measuring approx 65m by 55m including the 10m wide surrounding moat. The moat is approx 2.5m deep and waterfilled along its northern arm. Entrance to the interior is provided is provided by a slight causeway at the north east corner. A substantial inner bank or rampart is visible around the edge of the island on all but the east side. A small mound measuring 7m across is located at the north east corner of the island and may be the location of a defensive building or structure opposite the entrance. A low bank is evident along the outer eastern edge of the moat although its central section is only barely visible.
The site is believed to be built on the same spot as an earlier Danish fortress referred to in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles as being constructed in 921 AD and captured later that year by Edward the Elder.
Geophysical survey in 2004 revealed traces of internal structures on the island, probably related to occupation of the medieval moated site.
The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (no 11533).
| --- | SBD10507 - Photograph: BCC Photographic Unit. F335/35-37 |
| --- | SBD10508 - Slide: HER Slide Archive. 5440-5441 |
| --- | SBD10536 - Aerial Photograph: 1945-1955. RAF Aerial Photos. 1947: P 14-17 |
| --- | SBD10543 - Bibliographic reference: Bedfordshire Magazine. Vol 8, 1962, pp 236-237 |
| --- | SBD10574 - Article in serial: 1908. Victoria County History, Bedfordshire. Vol 1, p 281-282 |
| --- | SBD10593 - Aerial Photograph: Cambridge AP index. CA 133-134; RT 82-84; AAP 12-13 |
| --- | SBD10595 - Aerial Photograph: NMR Aerial Photograph. TL 1552/3/480 |
| --- | SBD10637 - Aerial Photograph: 1968. Hunting Aerial Photos 1968. 15/8275 |
| --- | SBD10652 - Aerial Photograph: 1976. Hunting Aerial Photos 1976. 6/1824 |
| --- | SBD10706 - Bibliographic reference: Wadmore. 1920. Earthworks of Bedfordshire. pp 65-69 |
| --- | SBD10783 - Unpublished document: 1937. Bedfordshire Regional Planning Authority Report. p 186 |
| --- | SBD10794 - Unpublished document: Bedford Archaeological Society. List of moated sites, n.d. |
| --- | SBD10803 - Scheduling record: English Heritage. SAM record form. No. 11533 |
| --- | SBD10807 - Unpublished document: Bedford Museum. OS 6" map, annotated |
| --- | SBD11204 - Newspaper Article: The Comet. 15/7/2004 |