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Summary

Late 11th century motte and bailey, with 12th century keep, and 1832 mock Norman gatehouse

Images

No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council

Monument Types

• FOLLY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden 11: Benington Lordship
• Scheduled Ancient Monument 1007844: BENINGTON CASTLE: A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE WEST OF CHURCH GREEN
• Area of Archaeological Significance

Full description

Low, square motte with semi-circular bailey to the NE. On E side of motte are the remains of a flint keep possibly begun c.1136, destroyed 1212, with walls standing 2.5m high. A wide ditch surrounds the motte on the south and east sides; to the north and west it is landscaped <1>.
The Gatehouse, in Norman style, of stone and flint, was built in 1832. The remains of earthworks containing medieval pottery were found outside the nearby churchyard [12009] <5>.
The original earthworks may have been dug for Peter de Valognes, sheriff in 1086; his son, Roger, probably erected the masonry castle c.1136. It passed to Robert fitz Walker on his marriage at the end of the 12th century and was destroyed when he was outlawed in 1212. See <6> for the condition of the remains.

House & Garden, March 1998 (Serial). SHT4873.

OS Records (Index). SHT8223.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20367 (Photograph). SHT16584.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20370 (Photograph). SHT16587.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20371 (Photograph). SHT16588.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20372 (Photograph). SHT16589.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20373 (Photograph). SHT16590.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20374 (Photograph). SHT16591.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20375 (Photograph). SHT16592.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20376 (Photograph). SHT16593.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20377 (Photograph). SHT16594.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20378 (Photograph). SHT16595.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Benington Lordship, PNO 20379 (Photograph). SHT16596.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Gatefouse folly, Benington Lordship, PNO 20368 (Photograph). SHT16585.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Gatehouse folly, Benington Lordship, PNO 20365 (Photograph). SHT16582.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Gatehouse folly, Benington Lordship, PNO 20366 (Photograph). SHT16583.

HCC (General/Archaeology), 1998, Gatehouse folly, Benington Lordship, PNO 20369 (Photograph). SHT16586.

<1> Page, W (ed.), 1908, VCH Hertfordshire vol.2, - p112 (Bibliographic reference). SHT9314.

<2> Renn, D F, 1961, The demolition of the keep at Benington; Antiquaries Journal vol.41, 96-7, Includes plan (Article in serial). SHT1650.

<3> Renn, D F, 1968, Norman castles in Britain, - p105 (Bibliographic reference). SHT9417.

<4> Renn, Derek, 1971, Medieval castles in Hertfordshire, - p14 (Bibliographic reference). SHT9405.

<5> Rook, Tony, 2002, An archaeological appraisal of the site of a proposed burial ground at Benington, RNO 1209 (Report). SHT9521.

<6> National Monuments Record, NMR Monument Report (Hertfordshire), RNO 2347 p117 (Unpublished document). SHT9440.

Sources and further reading

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