Monument Type(s):

• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 410 AD)
• MOTTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

The mutilated motte at Winsbury was excavated in 1961 prior to its destruction. Below the motte a length of U-shaped ditch containing Romano British pottery was found.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds

• FSA12 - FLAGON (Late Iron Age to Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FSA202 - MORTARIUM (Late Iron Age to Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FSA13 - SPINDLE WHORL (Late Iron Age to Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FSA14 - VESSEL (13th century to 15th century - 1200 AD to 1499 AD)

Associated Events

• ESA889 - 1961 Rescue Excavation of Winsbury Motte by the Ministry of Works in advance of Destruction
• ESA890 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey

Description

Rescue excavations in 1961 by the MOW before its destruction showed this mutilated motte to have been approx 80ft in diameter and 12-15ft above original ground level. It was surrounded by a ditch up to 13ft deep. A C19 observer [<1ai>] suggested that the farm occupies a base-court (bailey) but no evidence for one could be found (if some slight earthworks to the S of the farm be excepted as they would make it impossibly large). The earliest pottery found was C13, suggesting that this is one of the mottes refortified in 1224 by order of Henry III. The possible existence of a small RB settlement may be indicated by the discovery below the motte of a straight, U shaped ditch, 5.5ft deep, which was traced for 65ft. It contained a mortarium, a flagon rim and a spindle whorl <1a>

The site of the motte is now occupied by a Dutch barn. In the field centred at SO 2459 9818 are a number of rectangular building platforms, possibly the slight earthworks referred to by Addyman, of medieval or later date. OS FI 1973 <1>

[1961 excavation report never fully published <4>.] The following summary appears in an overview article of mottes in the vale of Montgomery. In 1961, Winsbury Motte “was made the subject of a short emergency excavation in September of that year, carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Public Building and Works by Mr. P. V. Addyman. His report notes that ' the motte, quite small in size, is comparable With several in the Vale of Montgomery '—a statement which his figures clearly support. We have been given a copy of the interim report by the kindness of Mr. A. J. Taylor, H.M. Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments, and copies of the plan and section by the very great courtesy of Mr. Addyman himself. It has been shown that the motte stands on an isolated pedestal of natural clay 4 to 6 ft. above the level of the farmyard upon this had been formed two horizontal basal layers, and on this make-up the body of the motte had been raised by tipping from the north side The whole stood 12 ft. above the natural pedestal, but Mr. Addyman considers that the very small segment Of the table-top which survived did not stand to its original height, which may have been 15 ft. from the turf line of the natural pedestal. This last, from its curved profile and the fact that the bottom of the motte ditch was fully 12 ft. below its level, would appear to be a natural hummock; though Mr. Addyman considers its isolation to be due to the lowering of the adjacent part of the farmyard -in relatively recent times." <5>

Sources

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