Monument Type(s):

• RINGWORK AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A well preserved ringwork (a type of medieval stronghold defended by a bank and ditch which is relatively uncommon in Shropshire), which is particularly unusual in that its bailey (outer court) survives. The base diameter is about 65 metres and the height to the interior is 3 metres from the outside ground level on the west. The D-shaped interior is 35 metres in diameter and is enclosed by a rampart, 14 metres to 17 metres in width and up to 2 metres in height. There is a 4 metre wide entrance in the south west side.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1036 - 1950s Excavation by Market Drayton School at Buntingsdale Hall
• ESA1037 - 1970 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1038 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1039 - 1987 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA6501 - 2009 topographical survey of Castlehill, Fordhall Farm

Description

An earthwork revealed by tree felling, in Castlehill Wood. It was noticed in 1950 by Mr P Bentley. Opposite Buntingsdale Hall, it is a well fortified site rising out of the alluvial flat, consisting of a sandstone ridge defended by the river Tern and associated marsh on the E, SE and S sides, and on the North by a rampart with a wide external ditch . The hill top is flat, of diameter 70ft, rising 18-20ft from the ditch. A small rampart runs along the W side from the SE.
ADS IAM for DOE FI 1970 <1>

Large Norman ringwork, situated at SJ65103252, incorporates, and is modelled from the upper parts of a glacial morainic mound of sandy soil and small stones. The mound sits atop steep slopes falling to a stream on the E and S but joins gently rising ground to the NW. The base diameter is about 65m and the height to the interior about 3m from the outside ground level on the W. The D shaped interior is 35m in diameter and is enclosed by a rampart, 14m to 17m in width and up to 2m in height. There is a 4m wide entrance in the S side. The NE side has been carried away by a landslip..An outer ditch, 14m in width and 1.2m in depth provides an additional defence on the weak NW side. OS FI 1975 <2><2b>
An earthwork was revealed by tree-felling, in Castlehill Wood. Centred SJ 6504 3265) by Peter Bentley in 1950.(<2ai>). His description indicates a promontory site rising steeply above the River Tern, the flat hill top of less than a 1/4 acre cut off by a double rampart and ditch, with gap entrance to the west, and suggests a Norman castle site of a local type which adapts a naturally strong position, of which I have discovered analogies at Adderley and in Castle Rough, near Lee Brockhurst. It might possibly be a very small promontory fort. <2a>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, High score as one of 43 Motte castles. <6>

Scheduling revised 2001. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a ringwork and bailey castle occupying an elevated position on a spur of land next to the steep north west valley side of the River Tern. From this commanding location there are extensive views of the land to the west and the Tern valley. ->

-> The ringwork is D-shaped, measuring approximately 30m by 34m internally, and is defined by two ramparts, which are separated by an entrance passage 6m wide to the west. The ringwork is defined on its north eastern side by the bluff created by the adjacent river. The rampart on the southern/south western side is considerably smaller than the one to the north west. It is about 8m wide and stands just less than 1m high, becoming slightly broader and higher at its eastern end. Its defensive strength is significantly enhanced by its position at the top of a steep slope, which has been deliberately accentuated. Down the slope to the south east of this rampart, earth has been deposited to form a level projecting lookout platform, measuring approximately 11m by 16m. The rampart defining the north western side of the ringwork is about 18m wide and stands to a height of 2.5m. It is bounded on its northern side by a broad ditch, up to 19m wide, which becomes narrower towards its southern end where it defines the northern side of the entranceway into the interior. To compensate for natural slope within the ringwork the eastern part of the interior has been raised in order to create a level building platform. ->

-> On the slight ridge to the north west of the ringwork, a bailey was constructed. Within this enclosure a range of ancillary structures are likely to have been built, including stores, stables and additional domestic accommodation. The north eastern side of the bailey, which is about 45m long, is marked by the bluff formed by the river, which has been partially steepened to increase its defensiveness. The defences constructed to define the north western and south western sides of the bailey are no longer visible at ground level, but will survive as buried features. ->

-> All fence and gate posts, and stiles are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included <7>

A programme of total station theodolite (TST) analytical earthwork survey was undertaken by a number of volunteers at the ringwork and Bailey Castle (Castlehill) at Fordhall Farm (PRN 01027) under the direction of James Goodhind. The survey achieved fairly comprehensive coverage across the earthworks of the site and allowed the creation of a series of 2D and 3D models. <8>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009. <9>

Little survives of the presumed bailey to the north of the ringwork. The site as a whole was only re-discovered after the Second World War when it was cleared of woodland. It is described as having no known name or documentary reference, and even its history of tenure is unclear from the start. An amateur, unpublished, excavation at the site in the 1950s did uncover dressed stone [the source of this information appears to be pers. comm. - see <11>]. <10>

This site was 'excavated' by a teacher at Market Drayton in the 1950s. No details are known of this individual or whether any record still exists. The late tenant gave information on the excavations - some sort of cobbled surface was discovered, along with stone fragments that may have been door jambs and lintels. In addition, a lot of worked sandstone is built into earlier sections of the present Fordhall Farmhouse and laid into its rockery. <11>

Sources

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