Monument Type(s):

• DITCH (Unknown date)
• RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
• MOTTE AND BAILEY? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Single ditch rectangular cropmark enclosure with a double ditched linear feature of unknown date. Earthwork evidence has been used to suggest that this site represents a possible motte and bailey castle, possibly identified in the nearby place name.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events: None recorded

Description

Two sides of a single ditched rectangular enclosure lie directly to the W . M Watson comment, 1980 <1>-<4>

Right angled (rounded) double ditch and rounded terminal to pair of ditches <6>

MU.363.1 Unit 1: A probable (double) ditch of unknown date, seen as a cropmark, and mapped from good quality aerial photographs.->

-> MU.363.2 Unit 1: A potential ditch of unknown date, seen as a cropmark, and mapped from good quality aerial photographs. NMR SJ 4403/1 (CUCAP AHF 19) 10-JUN-1963; CUCAP (AHF 18) 10-JUN-1963. ->

-> SJ 4479 0393. A double linear ditch forming a right angle bend, possibly representing part of an enclosure of unknown date, is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs and has been mapped by RCHME's Marches Uplands Mapping Project. A single ditch appears to supply the third side of the potential enclosure, giving overall dimensions of 140m x at least 80m [based on <1>]. <8>

Lidar images reveal (at SJ 4386 0382) the earthwork remains of a large sub-circular embanked and ditched enclosure with an annexe of almost equivalent size attached to the eastern side. Both enclosures have raised interiors. The southern earthwork ditch and bank of both coincide with the course of the curving ditch described above. A single linear ditch of unknown date, following a sinuous course, is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs. Lidar images reveal the earthwork remains of a large sub-circular embanked and ditched enclosure with an annexe of almost equivalent size attached to the eastern side. Both enclosures have raised interiors. The southern earthwork ditch and bank of both coincide with the course of the curving ditch seen on aerial photographs. The earthworks appear to be the remains of two conjoined enclosures of uncertain date, possibly a motte and bailey or an earlier defended enclosure. The adjacent farm is called Castle Place, possibly derived from the earthwork to the south of the farm. <9>

The earthwork features described in <9> are not particular apparent on LiDAR imagery held by Shropshire HER, but the lobate earthworks are visible on Blue Sky Map Shop LiDAR imagery at https://www.blueskymapshop.com/viewer/height-data/lidar-dtm?x=344671&y=303846&z=1&w=250&h=250&f=&p=[], derived from EA LiDAR data. <10><11>

An early C19 farmhouse inside a large, apparently natural, depression. Sometimes called 'Toppings Castle'. Shown as 'Castle Place' on Ree's 14th century map. There are traces of a double ditch, and to the W two sides of a single ditched rectangular enclosure. <12>

This feature appears to be shown on a map of c.1597 related to a dispute by the manorial lords of Stapleton and Pulverbatch. It is indicated as surviving as a nearthwork as named as "Topins Castell". <13>

Sources

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