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Summary

The motte (mound) and associated ditch were some of the earliest parts of Southampton Castle. They were constructed either in the late 11th century after the Norman Conquest of 1066 or in the first half of the 12th century (by 1153/1155). Archaeological investigations have located the ditch on the west, south and east sides of the motte, but not (as yet) on the north side. Excavations (SOU 124) on the south side of the motte have shown that the ditch was allowed to silt up during the 14th century, but was later re-cut, perhaps in the late 14th century. The ditch was finally backfilled in the post-medieval period.

Protected Status: None recorded

Other Statuses/Codes: None Recorded

Monument Type(s):

• CASTLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1618 AD)
• DITCH (dug, Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1155 AD?)
• DITCH (extant, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1700 AD?)

Full description

See Parent Record MSH23 for a summary of the documentary and excavation evidence for Southampton Castle, a discussion of the development of the Castle, and a full list of sources. (The summary and indexing on this record is derived from MSH23.)

CHILD RECORDS (in monument record order)
This record includes only details concerning the location of the ditch edge. See child records for further details of each site and sources.

MSH3384 - SOU 124 (excavation on the north side of Simnel Street in 1976/1977 (UBS III)):
Complete width of castle ditch found. Evidence of infilling and recut in medieval period.

MSH3384 - SOU 120 (watching brief in 1980 on SOU 124 site (UBS III & IIIE Salvage):
Finds probably "salvaged" from the castle ditch during the groundworks for Ironside Court.

MSH3385 - SOU 123 Area A (part of excavations in the SW corner of the castle in 1973/1974):
Outer/western edge of motte ditch found to north of south bailey wall. Not observed to south of wall (probably as area not investigated - IP).

MSH3386 - SOU 1242 Trench 2 (watching brief on a trench in Hamtun Street and near Castle House in 2003):
Fill of broken brick below Hamtun Street and a few metres north of it. Coincides with line of castle ditch. To the north - a brickearth deposit, perhaps part of the castle mound or possibly the layers that lay beneath it.

MSH3387 - SOU 130 (excavation east of Upper Bugle Street in 1953):
North side of the castle "south bailey ditch" found in the southern trench to the north of Roman Street (now Hamtun Street - IP).

MSH3388 - SOU 131 (excavation in Castle Way in 1953):
West half of castle ditch found - excavated but not bottomed.

MSH3391 - SOU 145 (excavation and watching brief at Lansdowne Hill in 1959 and 1960):
Inner edge of castle ditch observed in Trench F area during watching brief (see figure 54).

MSH3391 - SOU 609 (watching brief on Lansdowne Hill between 1960 and 1962):
Site to some extent overlaps with SOU 145 above (therefore same monument record).
Inner edge of castle ditch, found on corner of Upper Bugle Street and Roman Street.

MSH3402 - SOU 621 (watching brief on a sewer trench dug along the line of the Inner Ring Road - Castle Way - in 1961):
South edge of motte ditch found, although exact location of observation uncertain.

GIS: The edge of the ditch has been observed in several places on the west, south and north sides of the motte, and this information has been used to plot the edges of the feature. However much of the GIS plot is conjectural, especially on the north side. (SCC HER 30/10/09)

Sources / Further Reading: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events: None recorded

Related records

Associated Links: None recorded

If you have any feedback or new information about this record, please email the Southampton HER (her@southampton.gov.uk).

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