Monument Type(s):

• CASTLE? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• RINGWORK? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

The Castle Hills are shown on an estate map of 1635. A site visit in 1987 indicated that it was an earthwork castle, albeit not of the standard motte and bailey type.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3334 - 1987 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA8332 - 1994 Field survey at Manor Farm, Shifnal by Tempus Reparatum
• ESA8331 - 1994 DBA at Manor Farm, Shifnal by Tempus Reparatum

Description

Mrs Watts visited and photographed the site and sought SMR opinion on the substantial earthwork features she found there. ( See DRF.) <1>

The Castle Hills are shown on an estate map of 1635 <2>

M Watson visited the site and was satisfied that it was an earthwork castle, albeit not of the standard motte and bailey type <3>

In September 1993 a brief for the evaluation of the site was produced because of proposals to create recreation/conservation water areas there. <4>

In line with the brief (<4>), a programme of desk-based assessment and field survey was undertaken of this site in 1994. ->

-> The 'castle hills' are clearly depicted on an estate map of 1635 as two separate hills. The site is elevated above the Wesley brook and consists of two regularly shaped mounds apparently linked by a causeway over a ditch. The top surfaces of the 'hills' are regular and flat but with slightly elevated areas especially around the edges which may denote ramparts. There is no archaeological or other historical evidence to support or contradict the supposition that the 'castle hills' are the site of a medieval defended house or manor. ->

-> The mounds are approached by a single ramp from the south. This passes through flanking earth banks and therefore has the appearance of a defended access. The line of the causeway continues across the southern mound and rises again through a further area of raised earthworks before descending steeply to cross a marked linear depression separating the two mounds. The causeway rises again to reach the second of the mounds whose upper surface is more regular and flat than the first. The mounds are clearly depicted on the map of 1635 and it is here that the term 'Castle Hills' first appears. Even though there is no additional historical references to a castle, the naming of the mounds and indeed their physical characteristics make it very likely that these are indeed the remains of a fortified dwelling with outer bailey and defended access. <5>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009 (general views). <6>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, SMR Sheets Collection, SMR Sheet for PRN SA 04299 (Card index). SSA20723.

<01> Watts S, 1987, Letter, 1987, (Correspondence). SSA9319.

<02> Anon, 1635, The Site of the Manor. of Shefnall wt Some of the Parke thereto Adjoining ... (Map). SSA9318.

<03> Watson Michael D, 1987, Comment, 1987 (VERBAL COMMUNICATION). SSA9320.

<04> Watson Michael D, 1993, Brief for an Archaeologcial Evaluation at Manor Farm, Shifnal (Project brief). SSA2910.

<05> Harris A, 1994, An assessment of the archaeological resource: Manor Farm, Shifnal, Shropshire (Archaeological fieldwork report). SSA29643.

<06> Shropshire Council, 2009-Apr-5, SA0908_109 (1 photo) Flight: 09_SA_08 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25771.

Sources

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