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HHER Number:95
Type of record:Monument
Name:SOUTH MIMMS CASTLE, SOUTH MIMMS

Summary

12th century motte and bailey of unusual form, probably built by Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1141

Images

No image caption available  © Hertfordshire County Council

No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council

No image caption available  © Hertfordshire County Council

No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council

Grid Reference:TL 230 025
Map Sheet:TL20SW
Parish:Potters Bar
Map:Show location on GoogleMaps

Monument Types

  • MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1500 AD)

Protected Status

  • Scheduled Ancient Monument 20625: SOUTH MIMMS MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE
  • Area of Archaeological Significance

Full description

Castle comprising a 9m high motte in the NW corner of a kidney-shaped bailey 390' x 350'. There are traces of an outer bailey to the S, now ploughed <1, 2>. There has been extensive lime-quarrying to the W of the monument <2>; the quarry is now infilled and planted <3>. Excavations revealed that the construction and finds were consistent with the assumption that the castle was built by Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1141 with a licence from Matilda, and was possibly destroyed in 1143. It is also possible that earlier manorial buildings were demolished when the castle was built <1, 2>. The 'motte' is unusual, but not unique, in its construction and purpose. The timber tower was built first, and earth built up around its base to ensure stability, with access into the tower through a timber-lined tunnel. The visual result was not one of a raised mound within the bailey <4>. Finds of 13C/14C material in the vicinity [4835, 6233] suggest some form of later occupation on the site.

Sources and further reading

---Report: R J Zeepvat. 1995. HAU/HAT backlog archive review: smaller sites. archive assessment. RNO 316
---Unpublished document: Brian Warren, information. 4.3.1999
---Bibliographic reference: London & Middx Arch Soc Newsl 7,1933-7,p175,464.
<1>Bibliographic reference: Barnet & Dist Local Hist Soc Bull 15,1968 & Bull 10, 1957.
<2>Aerial Photograph: RAF. Motte and bailey, South Mimms, Potters Bar. PNO 3680
<2>Aerial Photograph: RAF. Motte and bailey, South Mimms, Potters Bar. PNO 3681
<2>Article in serial: North Middlesex Archaeological Research Committee. 1962. Report on excavations at South Mimms Castle, 20 August to 4 September, 1960; CBA Regional Group 10 Bulletin (1962), 31-4.
<3>Index: OS Records.
<4>Article in serial: Davison, Brian. 1967. The origins of the castle; Current Archaeology 5 (Nov 1967), 129-30.