Monument Type(s):

• BAILEY? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

The postulated area of the castle bailey at West Felton, associated with the motte mound (PRN 01124), based on topographic evidence. The bailey to the north may contain buildings/structures associated with a manorial complex, with the bailey to the south possibly associated with the church (PRN 00903).

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA7680 - 2012 DBA of Manor Farm, West Felton by Richard K Morriss
• ESA9254 - 2020 WB on landscaping works to the rear of Manor House Farm, Old Rectory Gardens, West Felton by Castlering Archaeology (Ref: 19/01751/FUL)

Description

A number of authors have postulated the existence of a bailey or two baileys to the E of the motte at West Felton (PRN 01124). The present settlement pattern of the lanes and houses of what can be called the 'old' village near the church seems to respect the existence of the large churchyard and of the boundaries of manor farm [<2>]. No sign/topographic evidence for a bailey exists on the west side of the motte. It has been suggested that the church was built within a bailey [<3>]. ->

-> Visual and historic evidence for a bailey to the east-north-east of the motte, including the site of the Manor Farm farmstead, is mainly circumstantial. It is quite possible to view the line of the lane leading to the farm and church from the east as the south side of such a bailey, and its alignment – on a slight tangential angle would be typical of the way in which a bailey would widen out away from the motte to create a typical ‘key-hole’ overall plan for a castle of this type. ->

-> Equally, the stream or channel that leaves the watered moat around the motte just to the west of its northernmost point does then turn very sharply – as if in a man-made channel rather than as a natural course – to the north-west and thus on an alignment that could be read as the northern side of such a bailey. ->

-> There is, it should be emphasised, no evidence of any surviving ditch or rampart on this alignment. Furthermore, there is a hint of an eastern boundary to the bailey, where the brook turned towards the former corn mill which stood on the north side of the lane that heads north towards Aston. ->

-> In this respect it may or may not be of any significance that the field to either side of the lane at this point was called Town End at the time of the 1830s tithe apportionment; such a name does not usually have an urban context in rural areas. However, the size of the suggested bailey would be disproportionate in comparison with the motte. This fact was noted in 1983 following a field visit which noted the ditch line along the farm lane continuing westwards into the farmstead (which was about to be infilled) and other possible associated ditches [<4>]. ->

-> Apart from the alignment of the track to the farmyard there are no obvious features visible in the present topography to indicate the existence of a bailey or baileys serving the motte – but it seems certain that such a bailey existed despite the present lack of any archaeological evidence for it. It also seems more likely that there was a single bailey and that the Manor Farm was within it, rather than the church. <1>

Described during an excursion undertaken by the Shropshire Archaeological Society in 1956. ‘One bailey enclosed the Church, the other the castle buildings on the site of the present farmhouse'. <5>

Area on GIS represents schematic representation suggested in <1>. <6>

No archaeological remains associated with the postulated bailey/manorial complex were recorded during a watching brief in 2016 on groundworks across the site of the farm. <7>

Discussion of interpretation of extent of baileys at Weslton Felton motte. <8>

No archaeological remains associated with the postulated bailey/manorial complex were recorded during a watching brief in 2020 during ground disturbing works associated with the erection of garden structures / buildings and features to the rear of Manor House Farm. <9>

Sources

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