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Monument Type(s):

• MOTTE AND BAILEY? (Medieval - 1101 AD? to 1300 AD?)

Summary

Field inspection by D Benson in 1969 revealed a number of sherds, possibly C12/C13 date, together with patches of reddened clay, on top of what is presumed to be the motte. In pasture.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds:

Description

(1) Watching brief during the initial stages of construction of a lake (at SP 30 19) did not yield any finds from a machine-stripped area of 3600 square metres. On 'U' shaped ditch was revealed, but without dating evidence. The ditch is on same alignment as the present boundary to the NE, and so may represent a fairly recent field boundary.
(2) Field inspection by D Benson in 1969 revealed a number of sherds, possibly C12th/C13th date, together with patches of reddened clay, on top of what is presumed to be the motte. This is now no more than about 1m high from the rest of the surrounding field. Farm workers from Ascott however remember it being much higher. There is a considerable slope down to the river at this point and the field boundary on the SW side swings out to accommodate the base of the mound. To the N there is a considerable depression, particularly near the river, which would seem to fit in well with the idea of an inner bailey ditch. The field is regularly ploughed.
(3) Cropmarks on FAS APs seem to indicate the site of a possible motte and bailey castle. Field visit by D Benson in 1961.
(4,5) Two areas of earthworks visible on Lidar, the northeastern area corresponding with a partial circular cropmark on 2009 Aps.
(6) Likely to be earlier than the motte and bailey castles to the west (PRNs 1532 and 3190), and may have been abandoned due to river flooding. Plate 7 has an extract of a map of the duke of Marlborough's estate 1771 (held in the British Library) indicating an earthwork mound at this location.

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1992, Lake Construction East of Manor Farm, Ascott-U-Wychwood: Archaeological Watching brief (Unpublished document). SOX192.

<2> Field Notes/Field Visit, D Benson, 30.11.71 (Unpublished document). SOX261.

<3> CBA South Midlands Group, South Midlands Archaeology, Vol 23 (1993) p.67 (Serial). SOX5.

<4> Environment Agency, 2009-14, Environment Agency LIDAR Image (Graphic material). SOX3042.

<5> Aerial Photographs (Photograph). SOX5651.

Sources

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