Monument Type(s):

• CASTLE (12th century to 15th century - 1100 AD to 1499 AD)
• MOTTE AND BAILEY (12th century to 15th century - 1100 AD to 1499 AD)
• SHELL KEEP (12th century to 15th century - 1100 AD to 1499 AD)
• SHRUNKEN VILLAGE (12th century to 15th century - 1100 AD to 1499 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: Shrawardine Castle is a good example of a medieval shell keep castle (one enclosed by a stone wall), which is well documented and has been shown to contain significant archaeological remains. It is of particular interest because of its association with medieval settlement earthworks and its proximity to the parish church and the nearby Little Shrawardine castle. The shell keep is listed Grade II.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3430 - 1994 Evaluation of site proposed for redevelopment at Shrawardine Farm by SCCAS
• ESA4217 - 1976 field observation by SCC SMR
• ESA4218 - 1961 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA4219 - 1968 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA4220 - 1980 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA4221 - 1982 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA4222 - 1991 Evaluation in advance of proposed redevelopment of part of Shrawardine Farm by SCCAS
• ESA4223 - 1992 field observation by SCC SMR
• ESA4224 - 1992 Excavation of a bank and ditch at Shrawardine Farm by SCCAS
• ESA4755 - 2001 Archaeological Survey at Shrawardine Castle by CPAT
• ESA4756 - 2001 Geophysical Survey at Shrawardine Castle by Archaeophysica (Ref: SHW20011)
• ESA4870 - 2001 Section 17 Management Agreement (5 years) by English Heritage
• ESA4933 - 1987 Assessment of SCC landholdings at Shrawardine (Shrawardine Special Project)
• ESA5011 - 1997-1998 Assessment and building recording prior to consolidation work at Shrawardine Castle
• ESA5932 - 2004 WB on groundworks at Castle Croft, Shrawardine by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA9675 - 2021 DBA of land at Shrawardine (adjacent to No 8, The Orchard), by Berrys Ltd (Ref: 21/03492/FUL)

Description

Three fragments of masonry on a small mound are all that remains of Shrawardine Castle (<1a>) or Castle Isabel. Built, originally, probably by order of Henry I; razed by the Welsh c.1215; rebuilt about 1240, (3) the castle was demolished by Parliamentary forces in 1645.<1b><1c>

There was a collapse of stone in c.Dec 1983 <16>

A proposal to redevelop part of Shrawardine Farm, to the south of the main castle earthworks, led to an evaluation in October 1991. Four trenches in the western half of the redevelopment site demonstrated that it was sterile archaeologically. The excavation of Trench G, at c SJ4025 1530, revealed the presence of a ditch, perhaps associated with earthworks still visible to the north and of presumed medieval date. Trenches A, B and H were located further to the east again, in an area supposedly once occupied by a C19 agricultural building, although no trace of it was found. Trenches A and H revealed pre C17 postholes, perhaps of a structure associated with the occupation of the outer bailey of the castle. It was recommended that if the redevelopment involved ground works in the two areas where archaeological features had been demonstrated, that excavation be undertaken in advance. <21>

In March 1992 stock erosion at the site was recorded. <22>

In August 1992 the Historic Environment Group drew up a schedule of repairs both to the masonry of the castle and the eroded motte. This was to include a photogrammetric survey of the masonry. It was sent to the SCC Estates Section. <23>

In July 1992 a more detailed investigation of the ditch found in Trench G in the 1991 evaluation was undertaken. This work showed that the ditch is likely to be medieval in origin…and to have had a short lifespan, with rapid infilling and no recutting. A bank was found to run along the NE side of the ditch. It seems likely that its core is contemporary with the ditch and that it was constructed from the upcast from the latter. There was no evidence of any revetment to the bank, and so rapid erosion is likely. The size and steep sided profile of the ditch suggest that it was a defensive earthwork. It is probable that the ditch and bank marked the western boundary of the outer bailey on the south side of the castle, running south from the inner bailey along the line now marked by the scarp on the west side of the smallholding .. Cartographic evidence suggests that by the C19 this outer bailey had been absorbed by the farm complex. <25>

Evaluation carried out on land adjacent to Shrawardine Castle in February 1994 by Shropshire County Council Archaeology Unit in conjunction with development proposals for the site. The proposed development site was thought to encroach on the outer bailey, south of the castle. The site of the castle is contained within the property of Shrawardine Farm. The motte, inner bailey and at least one of the outer baileys are situated in permanent pasture to the north of the farm complex. The castle was occupied from the Norman period until the Civil War. Previous excavations on the site had identified the presence of an outer bailey on this site but not its extent. The earthworks consisting of a linear bank and hollow were shown to be defensive in nature, the earliest residual 12–13th century pottery within the surviving layers of the bank suggesting a construction date towards the end of this period. It seems most likely that the bank and ditch marked the eastern side of an outer bailey. The partial survival of the ditch, as suggested by the 1728 plan of the farm would appear to be confirmed by the presence of post medieval artefacts in the upper fills. The evaluation also confirmed the existence of a medieval pottery kiln and the remains of post medieval farm buildings. <27>

Remains of castle. C12. Red sandstone rubble with the remains of some dressed sandstone. Fragmentary remains of a shell keep on a motte. The motte and bailey existed before 1165. The castle was slighted in 1644. County A.M. No. 72. B.O.E., P.247; Derek Renn, Norman Castles in Britain, p.311 <28>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, High score as one of 46 Motte and Bailey castles; one of less than 10 Shellkeeps <29>

Scheduling affirmed in 1997. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes Shrawardine castle, a shell keep castle with the remains of a stone keep, motte, three baileys and associated settlement earthworks situated on the north bank of the River Severn nine miles west of Shrewsbury. The castle is sited in an elevated position overlooking the river to control a crossing point and, with Little Shrawardine castle 800m west (the subject of a separate scheduling), is one of two castles designed to defend both sides of the ford. The fragmentary standing remains of the shell keep are Listed Grade II. ->

-> [The section of the scheduling description describing the history of the castle in some detail has been omitted]. ->

-> Today the castle includes the remains of a motte and a shell keep at the centre of an extensive earthwork complex. The keep is represented by the fragmentary remains of two partly buried undercroft arches and some fragments of walling. The walling is built of squared sandstone blocks and is battered (inwardly sloping) in the lower courses. The substantial nature of the fragments that survive suggest that, when intact, the keep was a powerful fortification. The castle mound, or motte, is irregular in plan having been disturbed by later stone robbing. However it remains a substantial mound with overall dimensions of 50m east to west by 30m north to south standing up to 5m high on its west side, 3.lm high elsewhere. Each face of the mound has been cut into, forming a series of concave quarry hollows. At the south west and south east corners are roughly semicircular mounds which may represent the sites of corner towers. On its north east side the mound falls to a flat platform which extends from the motte to the bailey ditch; this may indicate the site of a large building. ->

-> To the immediate north and east of the motte are the remains of the inner bailey enclosure. It is roughly rectangular in plan with maximum dimensions of 90m north east to south west by 50m north west to south east. The bailey is bounded along its northern side by a scarp 0.6m high with an outer ditch 0.5m deep. Around the east side it is bounded by a well defined scarp up to 2m high which curves around towards the west at its southern end before fading out. The inner bailey may have always been open to the small outer bailey which lies along this south side. Although the surviving visible earthworks of this bailey or enclosure are fragmentary, its plan can be traced as a roughly rectangular enclosure with dimensions of approximately 50m north west to south east by 40m transversely. The east side of the bailey remains visible as a low scarp up to 0.6m high running for approximately 50m on a north to south alignment, with evidence of an outer ditch visible as a slight hollow 0.2m deep. An exploratory trench was cut across this feature as part of an archaeological evaluation carried out by Shropshire Leisure Services Archaeological Unit (SLSAU) early in 1994. The excavation revealed that the defences comprised a bank surmounted by a timber palisade separated from an outer ditch by a berm 1.8m wide. The ditch itself was found to survive as a buried feature 3.6m wide and 1.9m deep, with a steep v-shaped profile. The southern end of the bailey is no longer visible as a surface feature, however the west side remains visible as a well defined scarp up to 1.2m high which curves northwards towards the motte. ->

-> During the 1994 excavations a two-chambered pottery kiln of 12th to 13th century date was identified immediately outside the bailey. It is the first kiln of its type to be discovered in Shropshire and is included within the scheduling. ->

-> On high ground to the north east of the motte are the remains of a second and larger outer bailey-with internal dimensions of approximately 80m north to south by 64m east to west. It is separated from the motte and inner bailey by a well defined ditch up to 6m wide and 0.6m deep with fragments of a flanking counter-scarp bank up to 0.4m high along its northern edge. The bailey is defended around its west side by a broad spread rampart averaging 10m wide and up to 1.2m high on its outer face, 0.5m on its inner. The scarp of an outer ditch 0.5m deep runs for some 6m to the west of the rampart and is now surmounted by a hedge. This western rampart fades out at its northern end adjacent to a large pond which lies at the north west corner of the bailey enclosure. Around the east side the bailey defences can be traced as a broad spread rampart up to 12m wide and 0.6m high. This is interrupted approximately 40m from its southern terminal by an original entrance gap 4m wide. This eastern rampart ends on the steepening slope above the pond occupying the north east corner of the site. ->

-> On the lower ground to the west of the castle, between the motte and the modern lane, are the earthwork remains of a hollow way and a series of well defined house platforms. These are a part of the medieval settlement which existed close to the castle. Their desertion may have resulted from economic difficulties which occurred due to crop failure following flooding during the early 14th century. Alternatively, the earthworks may represent houses which were razed to clear a field of fire during the Civil War siege of the castle in 1645. ->

-> Metalled surfaces, structures and fences which fall within the protected area are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath all these features is included.<30>

Topographical survey [ESA4755] in conjunction with geophysical survey [ESA4756] carried out by CPAT on behalf of Montford Parish Millennium Green Trust at Shrawardine Castle. The results from the survey revealed important new information for the layout of the castle and the surrounding village. The survey has shown that the original castle consisted of a motte, surrounded by a large ditch, to the east of which was an oval bailey. The bailey was later enlarged with the addition of an outer bailey on the south side. Informative as the individual surveys were, the combination of techniques allowed for a greater examination of Shrawardine’s history providing further insight into how the castle may have developed and what form that may have taken. <31><32><32a>

Assessment and building recording of Shrawardine castle from 1997 to 1998 in conjunction with consolidation works by Shropshire County Council. The fragile ruins of the castle, destroyed in the Civil War, lie just to the east of the village and its small church. It is a scheduled ancient monument and is owned by the County Council. The survey was commissioned to analyse the fabric of the ruins and provide a detailed survey of the upstanding masonry. ->

Shrawardine castle was once evidently a large castle. The surviving fragment of the west wall indicates a building of good quality and high status. The mound was either partially manmade or an entirely natural one scarped to improve its defensive capabilities. There is archaeological evidence to suggest the position of one, possibly two round towers on this defensive circuit and there were presumably several others. It is not clear if there was a keep on the mound top, but presumably this area did contain the main apartments of the castle of high status. If there was ever a chapel on the site, it had gone out of use by the Civil War. The surviving wall footings suggest that in the late period at least, several of the buildings built against the curtain wall were timber-framed. There may have been two separate ways up from the bailey to the mound top. The main entrance appears to be to the south east. There is another possible path up from the bailey to the south west. This may have been a postern gate or a later feature. ->

Assessing the former buildings and other structures within the bailey is difficult. The baileys would have presumably housed the less high status buildings. Although the masonry evidence is limited there is enough to indicate that the west wall was built in 1 phase. This was probably in the first half of the 13th century and at the same time as the mound was raised or scarped. It is impossible to tell from these findings as to whether this phase of construction marked the building of a new castle or a rebuilding of an existing one on this site. Shrawardine castle almost certainly replaced the one at Little Shrawardine. Although there are only fragmentary traces of the castle above ground and due to the fact there has been little below ground disturbance, the whole site is archaeologically sensitive. The survival of features below ground level is thought to be high. Despite its relatively unimpressive appearance, the castle is potentially one of the most important archaeological sites in Shropshire. <33>

A watching brief at Castle Croft in 2004 observed probable medieval settlement remains demolished with the castle. <35>

Feasibility study conducted in 1987 on behalf of SCC into forming a picnic site on land near to Shrawardine castle mound. There was also potential for housing development on an existing farmyard at Home Hall [PRN 04645], Shrawardine. This report also set out the programme of work and restoration that would need to be carried out on existing aspects of the landscape, if the picnic area was created. <36>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2007. <37>-<40>

The castle was covered by the deskbased lidar survey carried out in March 2014 which added some potential additional features not mentioned above. Key amongst these is a stretch of bank heading north from the field corner east of the keep cSJ 4015 1539. Although this feature is marked on the OS 1st Edition mapping, the lidar evidence reveals that it is a substantial structure c8.5m in width and 0.5m high, very similar in fact to the defensive works forming part of the south-east bailey mentioned by source (6) above. The bank runs almost due north from the field corner curving slightly and fades out by cSJ 4013 1548 in the vicinity of the pond. It is picked up again just to the west of the pond and runs from SJ 4008 1548 - 4005 1542 just north of the motte itself. As such this fits well with the description in the HER of a possible larger outer bailey. There are, however, also faint traces of a bank in the fields to the west immediately south of the road running from c SJ 3913 1549 - 4006 1548. There are faint traces of other banks on a similar alignment so it is possible that this feature is part of ridge and furrow cultivation, but its dimensions are very close to those of the other banks already noted so it is possible that it may represent part of an even larger outer bailey. West of the motte a length of hollow way extends north-east from SJ 3997 1531 to the corner of the motte. Just north of the hollow way are a set of house platforms at SJ 3997 1535, which together with the hollow way make up the remains of the medieval settlement which existed close to the castle. <41>

Ground photographs of castle taken in June 2018. <42>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2018. <43>

The mound is quite prominent, though pitted and uneven, probably because of stone robbing. There are only fragmentary remains of walling. See annotated 25". F1 JHW 11-DEC-1961. ->

-> Shrawardine Castle is situated upon the northwest end of a low, pasture-covered ridge. The castle mound measures some 40.0m north-east to south-west, by 30.0m transversely, and is of 4.0m average height. Lengths of ashlar retaining wall remain at or near the foot of the mound on the south-west and south-east sides. Near the south corner a passage leads up onto the mound, bound by a stone wall on its west and north sides. Upon the mound two fragments of castle survive at the south and east corners, each about 2.0m in length and up to 4.0m in height, towards the west corner, foundations remain for 2.5m. Within the south corner are foundations of a room, measuring 8.0m square. Remains of a dry moat survive at the south corner of the mound, 8.0m wide and 0.8m deep. Traces of the continuation of the moat exist along the south side, and its former course may be recognised within remains and traces of a retaining bank on the north-east and north-west sides respectively. ->

-> To the south-east is a rectangular bailey, measuring 40.0m north-east to south-west, by 30.0m transversely. It is bounded on the north-east by an earth and stone bank, 7.0m wide and 0.4m high, with an outer ditch, 4.0m wide and 0.3m deep. The bank continues along the south-east side, and turns into the south-west side which has been levelled. Resurveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. F2 ASP 05-DEC-1979. <44>

Listed by Cathcart King. <45>

Although standing within the lands of the fitz Alan Lords of Oswestry, Shrawardine was a royal castle, and there were at least half a dozen estates in Shropshire and Staffordshire which in the 12th century were held of the Crown by castle-guard services at Shrawardine. It was destroyed by Llewellyn in 1215 when he captured Shrewsbury. Although ordered to be repaired in 1220, there is no evidence of further Crown expenditure on the castle, and in 1244 Henry III gave the castle to John fitz Alan. The castle was demolished in 1645 after a five-day siege by Parliamentarian forces. <46>

The castle was covered by the deskbased lidar survey carried out in March 2014 which added some potential additional features not mentioned above. Key amongst these is a stretch of bank heading north from the field corner east of the keep cSJ 4015 1539. Although this feature is marked on the OS 1st Edition mapping, the lidar evidence reveals that it is a substantial structure c8.5m in width and 0.5m high, very similar in fact to the defensive works forming part of the south-east bailey mentioned by source (<44>) above. The bank runs almost due north from the field corner curving slightly and fades out by cSJ 4013 1548 in the vicinity of the pond. It is picked up again just to the west of the pond and runs from SJ 4008 1548 - 4005 1542 just north of the motte itself. As such this fits well with the description in the HER of a possible larger outer bailey. There are, however, also faint traces of a bank in the fields to the west immediately south of the road running from c SJ 3913 1549 - 4006 1548. There are faint traces of other banks on a similar alignment so it is possible that this feature is part of ridge and furrow cultivation, but its dimensions are very close to those of the other banks already noted so it is possible that it may represent part of an even larger outer bailey. West of the motte a length of hollow way extends north-east from SJ 3997 1531 to the corner of the motte. Just north of the hollow way are a set of house platforms at SJ 3997 1535, which together with the hollow way make up the remains of the medieval settlement which existed close to the castle. <47>

Sources

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