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

Summary

Remains of the northern and western sides of a large rectangular enclosure about 300ft by 600ft

Monument Type(s):

• CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOUND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• ENCLOSURE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• RIDGE AND FURROW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• POND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds:

• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Events:

• Excavation at Swavesey Castle, 1985
• Evaluation at Swavesey Castle, 1990 (Ref: SWA-90)
• AP assessment, Swavesey, 1990
• Evaluation in 24 Taylor's Lane, Swavesey, 2001

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument Cambridgeshire 37: 'Castle Hill' earthworks

Full description

R2, Castle Hill, W of the village street in Church End. The surviving remains consist of the northern and western sides of a large rectangular enclosure, about 300ft by 600ft. The bank which surrounded this enclosure has completely disappeared on the E side, and on the N and W varies in height, averaging from 4ft to 6ft from the level of the enclosure and from 7ft to 9ft above the water-level in a marshy moat, about 12ft wide, which goes round the outside. There appears to have been a second rectangular enclosure to the S, the W bank of which is parallel to that of the northern enclosure but some 75ft farther W. At the return of this bank towards the main enclosure there is a mound some 10ft high, of obscure purpose, but certainly not a motte. The area formerly enclosed by the banks is partially occupied by buildings on the E side, and to the W the ground is cut up by a number of shallow gravel diggings. All the works are made of gravel and this has contributed to their irregular and decayed state.
O2, The VCH seems to consider the N enclosure to be the principal one, here however under grass can been seen the remains of ridge and furrow, much dug into for gravel, but still identifiable. The mutilations of the southern and likely more important feature can also be attributed to gravel workings; the missing part of the W bank, almost certain partial removal of the NW mound and the large central hollow. The mound had a target trench dug into it during the last war and now the top is riddled with holes dug by children. Nothing of interest was seen in the exposed gravel. Published 25in survey revised.
O3, The remains of two adjacent rectangular enclosures. Only the N and W sides of the northernmost (300ft by 600ft) remain in banks 7ft high from the bottom of the 3ft outer ditch. At the junction of this bailey with the southern one, the banks have been cut by the road. At the W corner of the S enclosure there is an irregular mound and bank between 10ft and 15ft high, mutilated by shacks, water tank etc. The whole site has been much spoilt by market gardening and gravel digging. The N enclosure is under rough pasture. In the S part to the N of Taylors Lane, a barn stands in the corner of the scheduled area. E of this structure is a Mod house and garden with next to it another house, partially completed. In the N part of the enclosure several earthworks of an indeterminate nature can be seen, comprising a roughly rectangular enclosure with several waterfilled depressions. The bank is visible to N and W but seems to have been flattened in the area of the barn. The field is boggy, especially to SE. Earthworks were noted in field to N of scheduled area. The mound in the S enclosure to the W is grass covered and mown, forming part of the garden of the house to the E. It supports two dying elms and some hawthorn. The bank stretching S is again incorporated in the garden for approximately half its length. Conifers have been planted along the top of the bank. There is a dump of corrugated iron and domestic rubbish in the middle of this section and the remainder of the bank is covered in rough grass and scrub. The bank is surrounded by a wet area narrow to the N but broadening to the W. This does not appear to be included in the scheduled area, but this is difficult to ascertain from the small scale maplet.
R4, Comparable only to smallest motte. Its defences are integral with those of the town. Flood maps suggest it had a relatively limited function of commanding only spot where wedge of dry land approaches town in time of flood. Probably built by de la Zouch family in C13 as emergency against Barons in Isle of Ely who had burnt their corn etc. The area enclosed was bigger than ever needed for development in Medieval times
O5, Excavation in "outer bailey" showed no signs of occupation. Ridge and furrow within runs parallel to the W bank and also N of the N ditch, with the same orientation - see R6.
R8, An excavation through the Medieval ditch surrounding Swavesey by D Haigh for Cambridgeshire County Council provided an open section of ditch deposits suitable for environmental analysis. The site was found to contain a diverse range of sub-fossils. See R8 for full description.
R9, Trial excavation carried out in accordance with SMC conditions in advance of possible development. Within the Blackhorse Lane area were found major features of C11 -C13. The high density of finds would suggest occupation, though features possibly relating to a defensive enclosure were also found. In westernmost Amen Corner field a well preserved agricultural landscape was found, with ponds, ridge and furrow and ditches. The furrows are approx 7m across, the distance between c 13m and c 0,3m high. See Excavation Report for full details and list of finds. Function: military Finished? yes Occupation: ?Relationship to surrounding integral part of village settlements defences
R10. An evaluation within the town defence and castle earthworks (SAM 20421) revealed evidence of settlement dating to 3 periods: pre-12th C, 12-early 13th C (late Saxo-Norman), and 13-14th C. The 300 year period represented spans the known expansion of Swavesey during this period. 4 pieces of worked flint were also found.
R11. An evaluation found a considerable density and complexity of features from the LIA, L Saxon, Saxo-Norman and Medieval periods in the Northern part of the site (on gravels). Other trenches in the S & W part of the site revealed a substantial ditch crossing the site from SE-NW in the W part of the site, and extending northwards. This was identified previously (1997), and appears to represent a continuation of the defensive line of the castle bailey, which lies adjacent and to the north. The ditch may therefore be the line of the medieval town ditch.
R12. This small excavation revealed two features, possibly natural, and no finds.

Sources and further reading

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