| Description: | The remains of a Norman ringwork, comprising a penannular ditch and rampart, probably representing an earthwork and timber castle built by King Stephen during his siege of Exeter in 1136. Recorded by late 18th and early 19th century maps (Tozer, 1792 [Recognition Event No. 1918]; Hayman, 1803 [Recognition Event No. 1917]; Hayman 1806 [Recognition Event No. 4336]); a plan and profile were recorded by Shortt (1842, Pl. 1 [Recognition Event No’s. 983.00, 3823]). The ringwork was partially destroyed, and entirely obscured, by the construction of a reservoir in 1852; this was replaced by a modern construction in the 1990s, leading to the re-excavation of the earthwork in 1992-93 (Report to EAAC 25th June 1993; Nenk et al. 1994, 203). For earlier descriptions cf. accounts by Jenkins (1806, 359; Recognition Event No. 1361) and Shortt (1842; Recognition Event No. 983.00). A succinct account of the monument was compiled (by C.G.Henderson) for interim report purposes:
‘The surrounding ditch was 7m-9m wide and up to 3.8m deep, the rampart c.11m wide at its base, and the interior 17.5m across; the overall diameter of the castle was c.55m including the ditch. The original ground level fell by c.4.5m across the site from north west to south east. An unexcavated causeway across the south west sector of the ditch adjoined a gap in the rampart containing three foundation pits for an unfinished four-post timber gate-tower c.4m square. Two smaller pits, centred c.1.5m in front of the gate, were probably intended for angled posts abutting the tower […] to frame revetments to the exposed […] end sections of the rampart. None of the five pits contained a post-pipe; presumably building work halted before timbers were inserted into them. The castle contained no trace of internal buildings or occupation debris. Three post-holes on the north west side of the interior at the back of the rampart possibly indicate the line of a low plank revetment […]. One of these […] would have marked the end of a revetment flanking the entry; it is matched by a corresponding post-hole 4m to the south east. Set back 3m from the latter, a 2.85m-long slot is interpreted as [the base of ] a stair leading up to the rampart walkway.
‘Prior to the excavation of the ditch, the ground beneath the front of the rampart was made level by the creation of a series of shallow stepped terraces […]. There was no evidence for […] a front revetment to the rampart. It is envisaged that its external face would have been continuous in profile with the ditch, sloping at an angle of perhaps 45-50°, with a parapet and walkway at a height of at least 4m above ground level. The ditch, which was almost silt-free, produced no medieval finds and was half-filled with clean deposits probably derived from the slighting of the rampart, which must have been carried out almost immediately upon the cessation of construction works.
‘Danes Castle occupies the shoulder of a ridge c.275m to the north east of Rougemont Castle, founded in 1086 [cf. Monument No’s 11012-14; 11061] within the northern corner of the city walls, which faces it across the Longbrook Valley. It is first documented in the late 13th century when it was known as New Castle, the name Danes Castle being first recorded towards the end of the 17th century. The earlier name implies that at the time of its erection the earthwork was regarded as ‘new’ in relation to Rougemont Castle, the only other Norman military work in the vicinity. The character and siting of Danes Castle indicate that it was an unfinished siege work. Although the fairly full account of King Stephen’s three month-long siege of Rougemont in the early summer of 1136, given in the Gesta Stephani [Potter 1976, 30-47], contains no mention of his building a siege castle, no other occasion for the construction of Danes Castle can be suggested from documentary sources. It therefore seem probable that the ringwork was a campaign fort erected by Stephen in order to intimidate the besieges occupants of Rougemont and serve as a strong place of refuge should the need arise.’ (Nenk et al. 1994, 204).
‘Two long trenches which cut through the rampart to meet at right angles in the middle of the interior were discovered early in the excavation. They contained finds from the first half of the 19th-century and did not seem to be connected in any way with the construction of the reservoir. There can be little doubt that these features represent the earliest archaeological excavation trenches known from Exeter. They were probably dug by workmen engaged by Captain W.T.P.Shortt, the author of the earliest known detailed survey of the earthwork, although he left no record of his having carried out an excavation.’ (Report to EAAC 25th June 1993, 7).
Extant: Yes |
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