Record Details

Summary

The scheduled remains of a substantial multivallate earthwork remains of an Iron Age hillfort enclosing the site of a later hunting lodge.

Monument Type(s):

• HUNTING LODGE (Norman to MEDIEVAL - 1100 AD? to 1399 AD?)
• MULTIVALLATE HILLFORT (IRON AGE - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC)? (IRON AGE - 800 BC? to 42 AD?)

Associated Finds:

• THUMB NAIL SCRAPER (BRONZE AGE - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)

Associated Events:

• EST1223 - An archaeological field survey of Cannock Chase by Adrian Scruby on behalf of Forest Enterprise.
• EST1431 - A desk based and earthwork survey of Castle Ring hillfort, Cannock Chase. (NRHE Name - RCHME: Staffordshire Hillforts Project)
• EST1455 - Castle Ring, Cannock Chase. Observations upon the Condition of the Iron Age Hill Fort
• EST1641 - An archaeological assessment of Beaudesert Park, Cannock Wood, February 2005. (NRHE Name - Beaudesert Park) (Ref: Report No. 197)
• EST290 - A survey of the hillforts of Staffordshire. (NRHE Name -RCHME: Staffordshire Hillforts Project)
• EST529 - A site visit to Castle Ring Hillfort by an English Heritage Field Monument Warden in 1984.
• EST571 - A site visit to Castle Ring Camp, Cannock in 1958.
• EST2638 - An aerial survey of Cannock Chase (including Lidar and aerial photography) as part of the Chase through Time HLF project). (Ref: 7/2018)
• EST3150 - A geophysical (earth resistance) survey at Castle Ring, Cannock Wood, February to March 2019.
• EST2741 - A geophysical survey at Castle Ring, Cannock Wood, April 2017 as part of the Chase Through Time project. (NRHE Name - See Event Description) (Ref: 53-2017)
• EST3675 - An archaeological excavation at Castle Ring camp by W. Molyneux in 1863. (NRHE Name - Castle Ring Camp)

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument 1014687: Castle Ring, A Multivallate Hillfort and Medieval Hunting Lodge

Full description

Hunting Lodge: Foundations of a building supposed to be a medieval hunting lodge. Hillfort: In a commanding position and roughly pentagonal with original entrance on the north-east side. Defended by two banks and ditches with counterscarp, but these are doubled on flatter ground on the south and south-east sides. <1>

On a rectangular platform in the eastern part of the hillfort interior are stone footings (1.5 metres thick) of a substantial building. The ground plan is that of a probable 12th or 13th century hall, orientated north-south with a screen passage near the south end. Inturned entrance on the eastern side at the north-east corner is original, but the gap in the south-west corner is not original. <2>

Multivallate Hillfort: Most of the defensive circuit consists of three ramparts separated by two ditches. The north-east section of the outer ditch has been filled and the outer rampart reduced to allow for a driveway. Original, inturned entrance to the north-east. <no source given>

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of an Iron Age hillfort and the ruins and buried remains of a small medieval hunting lodge. The hillfort is an irregular pentagon in plan and has multiple defences (typically comprising of three banks with two ditches in between), which enclose an area of 3.6 hectares. The inner bank has a uniform flat top, thought to have been created as a walkway in the 18th or early 19th century. Two other pathways, (one crossing the interior of the fort and one skirting the northern defences) are also believed to have been laid out at this time as carriage rides from Beaudesert Hall. No earthworks associated with the occupation of the hillfort survive within the interior, although geophysical survey evidence suggest that the buried remains of huts may survive. The earthwork and excavated remains of a small medieval building survive in the north-west corner of the hillfort. Artefacts (including pottery, flint and metal objects) recovered during 19th century excavations of the building by William Molyneux suggest that it was of high social status, and it is considered possible that the building is the remains of a hunting lodge mentioned on the chase in the 12th-14th centuries. (SB, 18/05/2005) <3>

The situation of the fort is recorded in 1908 as being 'quite panoramic' with 'no less than seven counties' visible from the summit. (SB, 18/05/2005) <4>

A camp of 9 acres defended by 2 banks and ditches, with a counterscarp bank on the north and west sides, multiple defences to the south and south-east, and an inturned entrance on the eastern side. (SB, 18/05/2005) <5>

The earliest reference to Castle Ring (then known as Castle Hill) was made by Robert Plot in his 'Natural History of Staffordshire' of 1686, although it was thought at this time to date to the 11th century, and this view was accepted by most historians through until the 19th century. The site was first surveyed in the early 19th century, when it was still known as Castle Hill. By the time the first large scale survey of the hillfort was carried out in 1884 its name had changed to Castle Ring. (SB, 18/05/2005) <8> <9>

A date of the 14th century would seem to fit with the scant dating evidence for the remains of the building within the hillfort, and may be the site of a keepers lodge associated with the nearby manor house. Alternatively it is considered that the building may be the remains of the original manor house, which was later given up for the more hospitable site that Beaudesert Hall was to occupy. (SB, 18/05/2005) <10>

The banks and ditches are partially obscured by vegetation in the summer. (SB, 18/05/2005) <11>

The multivallate hillfort occupies a commanding position on the highest point of the Chase at 244m OD, providing superb views all round; the broad, flat-topped walkway is presumed to have been created as a walkway to view the Chase during the 1770s or c.1814 landscaping at Beaudesert. The paths that cross the interior of the camp appear to have been laid out at the same time. The site contains below ground archaeological features currently vulnerable as a result of open access, erosion, thin soils and so on. (LH, 07-Jul-2007) <12>

Area 8.5 acres. Five sided, its W and N sides being protected by 2 banks and ditches with a counter scrape bank. On the S and SE sides, valve flat ground made extra defences necessary there are 5 banks and 4 ditches. The original and only entrance is through the E side at the lodge. S of which the multiplication of defences begins. The innermost bank is interned. [see Thomas] Date? 1st C BC. Remains of a building in the NW corner. <13> <14> <15> <16>

Both the hillfort and the remains of the hunting lodge have been mapped from lidar imagery. (EAC, 25-Jul-2017) <17>

Sources and further reading

Feedback

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from Exegesis Spatial Data Management.