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West Berkshire HER
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The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.



HER Number MWB3795
Record Type Monument
Name West Woodhay Motte

Grid Reference SU 388 630
Map Sheet SU36SE
Parish West Woodhay, West Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

Small motte, ditch and causeway, possibly an early medieval hunting lodge, excavated in the 1930s

Other Statuses and Cross-References

  • Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 01891.00.000
  • National Monuments Record No.: EHNMR-637276 English Heritage NMR Excavation Index for England
    SU 38 63
  • National Monuments Record No.: SU 36 SE 8
    SU 3888 6304

Monument Type(s):

  • MOTTE? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HUNTING LODGE? (12th century to 14th century - 1101 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BELVEDERE? (17th century to Late 19th century - 1601 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Full Description

TOO SMALL TO BE A CASTLE, MORE LIKELY EARLY MEDIEVAL HUNTING LODGE. IS MOTTE, DITCH, AND CAUSEWAY ACROSS DITCH. EXCAVATED IN LATE 19TH CENTURY WHEN MISTAKEN FOR A BARROW, CONSEQUENTLY SEVERELY DISTURBED. NO SIGN OF BUILDINGS, BUT FLINT AND BROKEN TILE OPPOSITE CAUSEWAY ON MOTTE.

Excavated in 1930s by E Jervoise <6> <7>.

The NMR records the monument as a Medieval motte, excavated between 1935-36 when 12th to 14th century pottery was found. The mound is circa 30 feet in diameter and 8 feet above the height of the ditch. A monitoring visit by the English Heritage Field Monument Warden in 2007 noted the presence of a landbridge over the ditch facing in the direction of West Woodhay House. This led to the suggestion that the mound might have been adapted for later use as a belvedere or summerhouse mound.

There is a suggestion in English Heritage Excavation Index <10> that the mound was also excavated in the 1880s <11>.

Sources and further reading

<01>Newbury Museum. 1938. Norman pottery sherds. [Object / SWB13395]
<02>Congress of Archaeological Societies in union with the Society of Antiquaries. 1938. REPORT OF THE EARTHWORKS COMMITTEE 1938 14-15. [Monograph / SWB9340]
<03>Congress of Archaeological Societies in union with the Society of Antiquaries. 1936. REPORT OF THE EARTHWORKS COMMITTEE 1936 17. [Monograph / SWB9339]
<04>Congress of Archaeological Societies in union with the Society of Antiquaries. 1937. REPORT OF THE EARTHWORKS COMMITTEE 1937 16. [Monograph / SWB9338]
<05>RCHM(E) EXCAVATIONS INDEX NMR NO OS/SU36SE08. [Unpublished document / SWB9337]
<06>Newbury District Field Club. 1937. TRANS NEWBURY DISTRICT FIELD CLUB 1937 VOL 7 NO 4. PP261-73. [Article in serial / SWB10479]
<07>Newbury District Field Club. 1953-4?. TRANS NEWBURY DISTRICT FIELD CLUB 1954 VOL 10 NO 2. P65. [Article in serial / SWB7123]
<08>Archaeology Branch of Ordnance Survey & Newbury Museum staff. 1913 onwards. Newbury Museum Archaeology Map XLII SW.. 42SW. 6 inch. 2 annotations for motte and pottery finds. [Map / SWB12863]
<09>Berkshire Archaeological Society. 1947. Berkshire Archaeological Journal 1947 50. 50. In ADS Journals. 10.5284/1000017. p73. [Article in serial / SWB10526]
http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/berks_bas_2007/journal.cfm?volume=50 (Accessed 04/02/2016)
<10>English Heritage. 1978-present. English Heritage NMR Excavation Index for England. EHNMR-637276. [Index / SWB6845]
<11>18?. PROC HANTS FIELD CLUB 18? 9 P192, 412-3?. 9. P192-24,412-13?. [Article in serial / SWB147941]

Related Monuments

MWB20895West Woodhay Park and Gardens (Landscape)
MWB3796WEST WOODHAY VILLAGE (Monument)

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

EWB481West Woodhay Motte, 1935-9 (Ref: T16)

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