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| Name: | Castle Fields: motte & bailey |
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| HER Ref: | MES5207 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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Designations
- Scheduled Monument 1002274: Castle mound
- SHINE: Castle Fields: motte & bailey
Summary
Motte and bailey, excavations in 1912 found it consisted mainly of sandstone rubble and burnt earth with some C14th and C17th potsherds. Documentary sources suggest a date for the motte of c.1307.
Monument Types
- MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Description
[TQ 4811 3604] Earthwork [GT] An earthwork mentioned in 1835, consists of an oval mound 200' x 180', and some 7'-8' high. A modern drainage ditch lies on its south-east side. Excavations in 1912, showed the mound consisted mainly of sandstone rubble, with a layer of blackened earth, and some burnt stones. A few14th/17th century potsherds, and a small worked flint were found. The absence of any ditch or structure remains, would suggest this to be a rubbish dump from a nearby quarry. (3)
Mackenzie however believes that the local name Castle Fields, together with the mound, indicates the site of a small castle. It was a hunting seat of the Barons of Pevensey, and a deed exists from Edward II dated from this place. Scheduled as 'Castle Mound'. (2-4) (TQ 4812 3602) Motte (NR) (5)
A Motte and Bailey, situated on the SE extremity of a low ridge in a pasture field. The motte, c 50.0 m in diameter at base and about 2.0 m high, is surrounded by vague traces of a silted-up ditch, best preserved on the W side where it is 0.5 m deep. The bailey extends along the ridge to the NW of the motte for a distance of about 75.0m. The enclosing ditch is 0.7m deep on the N side, but barely distinguishable elsewhere. There may have been a second bailey on the slopes to the SE, formed by a ditch on the N side, which connects with steepening natural slopes in the S and E. Published survey (25") revised. (a) (6)
Sources
| <2> | Serial: Sussex Archaeological Society. 1846. Sussex Archaeological Collections. vol 56 (1914) pp.201-2, (L.F. Salzmann). |
| <3> | Article in serial: Article in serial. Castles of Eng., 1, 1897. p.70, (Mackenzie). |
| <4> | Article in serial: Article in serial. A.M's.Eng.Wales, 1961, 89. (M.O.W.). |
| <6> | Correspondence: 1952. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigators Comment. F1 NKB 14-JUN-71. |
| <8> | Article in serial: Article in serial. CFW 6.2.1969. |
Associated Events
- Field observation on TQ 43 NE 7
- CASTLE FIELDS (Ref: EI 403)
- Castle Fields, Hartfield (Ref: EI 404)
Associated Monuments - none recorded
Associated Finds - none recorded
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