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Summary

A small mottle and bailey castle of probable medieval date was visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014, as an earthwork mound circa 50 metres in diameter on the north-west tip of a narrow earthwork ridge with three associated rectilinear ditch defined enclosed platforms on the south-east and south-west-facing slopes below.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 188795
• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST10SW/1

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) MOUND (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Medieval - 698000 BC to 1539 AD (Between))
• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Woollcombe, H., 1839-1850, Woollcombe Manuscript (Un-published). SDV16214.

Visit September 1843 Three ramparts, highest being the inner one. Outer circumference circa 100metres.

Hutchinson, P. O., 1848-1894, Diaries (Un-published). SDV339321.

Visit 6/6/1859 Mound circa 60metres diameter surrounded by earthworks with further earthworks to south.

Hutchinson, P. O., 1862, On the Hill Fortresses, Tumuli, and some other Antiquities of Eastern Devon, 62 (Article in Serial). SDV338169.

Earthwork at Buckerell Knap south east of Hembury Castle, of which it was perhaps an outwork. At north end of ridge a circular mound, about 60 metres in diameter, is encompassed by earthwork and defended by three great ditches to the south.

Kirwan, R., 1869, Notes on the Prehistoric Archaeology of East Devon, 496 (Article in Serial). SDV135413.

A group of five barrows on Buckerell Knapp, about 2 miles west of Honiton. No precise location given. Said to be even larger than the barrows on broad down.

Kirwan, R., 1871, The Prehistoric Archaeology of East Devon, 297 (Article in Serial). SDV135842.

At Buckerell Knapp are some noble examples of the bell shaped barrows.

Kirwan, R., 1872, Untitled Source, 36 (Article in Serial). SDV342060.

Hutchinson, P. O., 1882, The Site of Moridunum, 520 (Article in Serial). SDV135820.

The KNAP is a long narrow tongue of land, well fortified naturally, but evidently in addition scarped all around. Artificial mound, trench around 230 feet diameter, 13 feet high at southern end. At the narrowest part of the ridge a defensive ditch has been cut. There is there a rhomboidal mound, also trenched around, about 130 feet diameter. Then at the extreme point a larger roughly 200 feet higher mound.

Wall, J. C., 1906, Ancient Earthworks, 618 (Article in Monograph). SDV341465.

Buckerell Knap, with Bushy Knap, is supposed by Mr. Orlando Hutchinson to have been an outpost to Hembury Fort, near Honiton. Occupying the north-west extremity of a lofty ridge is a circular mount about 200 feet in diameter, rising with the natural scarp of the height. The ridge extends to the south east, and on this side the mount is protected by three great ditches cut in crescent form across the whole width of the ridge, the ends of them being supported by the steep declivity. These enclose two small base-courts, and the two inner ditches have each a bank on the edge of the counterscarp. Archaeological Association Journal 18, 62.

Radford, C. + Radford, C. A. R., 1927, Sixth report on ancient monuments, 68 (Article in Serial). SDV342059.

Mr G.T. Harris drawn attention to lack of evidence supporting these earthworks as articifial. Not an ancient monument.

RAF, 1947, CPE/UK 1974, 30/70 (Aerial Photograph). SDV119125.

Pronounced mound and ditch visible on raf 1947 aerial photo. Other details: 3448.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RP 3448-3449 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

An earthwork mound and associated ditch defined platforms were visible.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953 - 1959, ST10SW5 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV342057.

1. Centred at ST 12740149.
2. Quinnell note: To the best of my belief the alleged earthworks at Buckerell Knapp are natural, or the result of old quarrying. Not investigated by me.
3. Quinnell note: Journal of British Archaeological Association Vol 18 (1862) page 62 a very vague article in which it is suggested as an outpost of Hembury.
4. Visit on 27/11/1953 a natural prominence at north extremity of a long narrow ridge, and boundary hedge skirts the foot of this small knoll on its north half. The mound has probably been scarped to provide earth for the field and boundary bank. The obviously artificial trenches are not associated with any defensive banks. Possibly cut for timber haulage.
5. Visit on 24/02/1959 The whole of the top of Buckerell Knapp is ridged and undulating and suggests that the area was 'worked' at some time. Not an antiquity.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1955 - 1982, ST10SW10 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV342061.

1. At Buckerell Knapp 5 barrows Transactions Vol 3 page 496
2. At Buckerell Knapp are Bell shaped Barrows Transactions Vol 4 page 297
3. Nil information, Burial Mounds of England, Grinsel

Higham, R. A., 1979, The Castles of Medieval Devon (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV336189.

Not convincing as a medieval castle.

Ordnance Survey, 1982, OS/82219 V, OS/82219 V 1093-1094 03-SEP-1982 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357675.

An earthwork mound and associated ditch defined platforms were visible.

Griffith, F. M., 1983, DAP/A, 30a (Aerial Photograph). SDV122353.

Higham, R. A., 1988, Devon Castles: An Annotated List, 146 (Article in Serial). SDV341278.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution), LIDAR ST1201 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359177.

An earthwork mound and associated ditch defined platforms were visible.

Hawken, S., 2001 - 2005, Bushy Knap and Buckerell Knap Report, 7-11 (Report - Survey). SDV342062.

Plan of earthworks suggests they are not barrows, but single group of earthworks predating parish boundary.

Hawken, S., 2004 - 2007, Two previously unidentified Motte and baileys within east Devon, 1-2 (Report - Assessment). SDV342118.

The positioning of a motte and bailey atop Buckerell Knap has all the defensive requirements of an early post-conquest setting dealing with the Southwest uprisings of 1067-9, building implemented by Ralph de Pomeroy.

Gethin, B., 2013, The Motte and Baileys near Honiton (Correspondence). SDV354579.

Lidar image of earthworks at Buckerell Knap.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

The remains of a mound circa 50 metres in diameter are visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 as an earthwork on the north-west tip of a narrow earthwork ridge, or knap, 700 metres west of Awliscombe village. A steeply graded ditch between 2 to 8 metres wide separates the mound from enclosed platforms or terraces on the slopes of the ridge to the south-west and south-east, and a possible rampart enclosing the mound on the north-west to east –facing slopes. Two roughly rectangular enclosed areas follow the ridge south of the mound, narrowing with the ridge from circa 50 metres wide to circa 30 metres in width. The enclosed area west of the mound is roughly triangular in shape, again reflecting the topography of the slope, up to 85 metres along the longest edge.
The earthworks are tentatively interpreted as the remains of a small motte and bailey of probable medieval date.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV119125	Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1947. CPE/UK 1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. 30/70.
SDV122353	Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1983. DAP/A. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 30a.
SDV135413	Article in Serial: Kirwan, R.. 1869. Notes on the Prehistoric Archaeology of East Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 3. Unknown. 496.
SDV135820	Article in Serial: Hutchinson, P. O.. 1882. The Site of Moridunum. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 14. A5 Hardback. 520.
SDV135842	Article in Serial: Kirwan, R.. 1871. The Prehistoric Archaeology of East Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 4. Unknown. 297.
SDV16214	Un-published: Woollcombe, H.. 1839-1850. Woollcombe Manuscript. Manuscript.
SDV336189	Post-Graduate Thesis: Higham, R. A.. 1979. The Castles of Medieval Devon. University of Exeter Thesis. Unknown.
SDV338169	Article in Serial: Hutchinson, P. O.. 1862. On the Hill Fortresses, Tumuli, and some other Antiquities of Eastern Devon. Journal of the British Archaeological Association. 18. Unknown. 62.
SDV339321	Un-published: Hutchinson, P. O.. 1848-1894. Diaries. Devon Record Office Collection. Manuscript.
SDV341278	Article in Serial: Higham, R. A.. 1988. Devon Castles: An Annotated List. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 46. Paperback Volume. 146.
SDV341465	Article in Monograph: Wall, J. C.. 1906. Ancient Earthworks. Victoria History of the County of Devon. Hardback Volume. 618.
SDV342057	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1953 - 1959. ST10SW5. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV342059	Article in Serial: Radford, C. + Radford, C. A. R.. 1927. Sixth report on ancient monuments. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 59. A5 Hardback. 68.
SDV342060	Article in Serial: Kirwan, R.. 1872. Archaeological Journal. 29. Unknown. 36.
SDV342061	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1955 - 1982. ST10SW10. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV342062	Report - Survey: Hawken, S.. 2001 - 2005. Bushy Knap and Buckerell Knap Report. Community Landscapes Project Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 7-11.
SDV342118	Report - Assessment: Hawken, S.. 2004 - 2007. Two previously unidentified Motte and baileys within east Devon. Community Landscapes Project Report: Exeter University. A4 Stapled + Digital. 1-2.
	Linked documents:1
SDV354579	Correspondence: Gethin, B.. 2013. The Motte and Baileys near Honiton. Email and Lidar Image. Digital.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RP 3448-3449 11-APR-1947.
SDV357675	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1982. OS/82219 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/82219 V 1093-1094 03-SEP-1982.
SDV359177	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR ST1201 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014. [Mapped feature: #82250 ]
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4476 - Earthwork Survey at Buckerell Knap
• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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