| Summary : Earthworks 'suggestive of a castle' may be identified with an early 19th century description of earthworks south of Oaksey church. These comprised a square enclosure formed by a deep moat and embankment with a large mound in the north east angle, several other square enclosures and, some distance away, another mound. Aubrey in the 17th century mentions ruins of an old house and chapel adjoining the churchyard. Field investigation in 1968 noted that the only earthworks appeared to be small Medieval garden plots, bounded to the south and west by rig and furrow. Earthworks of a possible Medieval building platform, probable Medieval enclosure, possible Medieval field system and possible drainage system were identified on air photographs. |
More information : (Area: ST 99159340)(4) Earthworks, "suggestive of a castle
site", are a short distance (less than 3/4 mile) south-east of a
find-spot of Md potsherds (ST 99 SE1), according to Meyrick (1).
These may be identifiable with an early 19thc description of a square
enclosure, south of Oaksey church, which was formed by a deep moat
and an embankment and with a large mount at its NE angle. Outside
it were several other square enclosures and, at some distance,
another artificial mount was visible at the northern end of the
field (2). Aubrey, (17thc), refers to the ruins of an old house and
chapel, visible in a close adjoining the churchyard which was called
Court and Chapel Close (3). Air photographs show an area of confused
relief-markings in the fields south of the church (4). (1-4)
The only earthworks now visible appear to be small Md. garden plots;
they are bounded to the south and west by rig and furrow, and are
of minor archaeological significance. (5)
The site remains as described by King (5).
There are undulations in the surface of the pasture land here but
they are slight, with little coherent pattern, and are in keeping
with authority 5's conclusions. (6)
This site was plotted from good quality air photographs and the
following features identified:-
Possible Medieval building platform, seen as earthworks.
Morphological description: a rectangular enclosure, 35m by 20m,
defined by 1 ditch and 1 bank. This is possibly the site of the
tower house described in the SMR record. (7a)
Centred at:-ST 9917 9338
(Morph No. TG.79.8.1)
Probable Medieval enclosure, seen as earthworks. Morphological
description: an asymmetric, polygonal enclosure, 40m by 35m,
defined by 1 ditch on 4 sides.
Centred at:-ST 9916 9342
(Morph No. TG.79.8.2)
Possible Medieval field system, seen as earthworks. Morphological
description: perpendicular linear features, each defined by 1 ditch
with a maximum length of 100m. Centred at:-ST 9918 9342
Additional NGR's: ST 9909 9344, ST 9921 9328
(Morph No. TG.79.8.3)
Possible Early Medieval or later drainage system, seen as
earthworks. Morphological description: a forked linear feature,
defined by 1 ditch with a maximum length of 65m.
Centred at:-ST 9928 9345
(Morph No. TG.79.8.4)
Notes :-
These features are described as the site of a tower house in the
Wiltshire SMR, based on the records of the Duchy of Lancaster.
The evidence on the ground and from air photos is inconclusive.
The westernmost ditch lies along the line of what is now depicted
on the OS sheet as a drain, but this is not to say that this was
not an original feature re-used in the present day.
This description has been generated from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(7)
Site of a large manor house of the Earl of Hereford, whih was granted a licence to crenellate in 1347. In the 15th century it had a hall and east tower, a solar on the west, 8 rooms to the south, and a 9th room with domestic services on the north. Both hall and towrer were roofed with lead, other roofs being slte. The house had 2 chapels internally with a third in the precincts. There was a farmstead nearby. The house was demolished in 1593. (8) |