Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 243764
Hob Uid: 243764
Location : Hampshire East Hampshire Bentley
Grid Ref : SU7939046270
Summary : Site of a motte and bailey, probably a siege castle. The motte is flat topped, 52 metres in diameter and 1.8 metres high, with a ditch 8 metres wide and 0.5 metres deep Excavations in 1980 indicated that a V-shaped ditch surrounded the motte. Under the motte Roman debris was found which may indicate the site of a building or that there was a Medieval construction which used a nearby villa as a quarry.
More information : (SU 79394627) Air photograph shows large mound surrounded by a bank. (1) At this point in a grass field, formerly arable, is a ploughed-over motte with a surrounding ditch and the remains of a bank which on the south extends from the motte to form a small area - probably a bailey. The motte is flat-topped, 52.0m. in average diameter and 1.8m. high with a ditch, 8.0m. wide and 0.5m. deep. The bank is surveyable only on the west and east sides and elsewhere is visible as a spread rise. The mound is littered with fragments of stone and many flints, but the surface soil in the area is naturally stony. Several fragments of Ro. tile were found including flanged roofing tile which as at Barley Pound - (SU 74 NE 8) may have been taken from the Ro. Villa site - (SU 74 NE 7) and built into the stucture which probably surmounted this motte. No other trace of such a structure was seen. The motte is placed on the southern crest of a prominent E-W ridge commanding an extensive area to the south. (2) No change. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3) SU 794463. Probably a siege-castle which, together with Powderham (SU 84 NW 51), would have been used to blockade Barley Pound (SU 74 NE 8). (4) SU 793462. Excavations by Hants. County Council and D.O.E. showed the castle to consist of a low motte with attached bailey. Part of the motte was surrounded by a V-shaped ditch and the bailey was delineated by a bank. Under the motte was a buried ground surface which covered a Roman building. (5-6) No visible evidence, site completely leveled and under cultivation. (7) Excavations in 1980 showed the V-shaped ditch ran right around the motte, apart from where it was abutted by the bailey. The ditch was deliberately filled at an unknown date, with material from the motte, but only after an initial period of natural silting over many years (8, 10-11). It remains unclear if Roman material found during the excavations derives from a Roman building in the immediate vicinity of the castle or from the substantial villa site to the north. Full excavation report (9). Additional bibliography (11). (8-11) Listed by Cathcart King. (12)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : (RAF 106G/UK/1710/3001)
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : F1 WW 26-SEP-56
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Source Number : 11
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Page(s) : 96
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Vol(s) : 1983

Source Number : 12
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Page(s) : 189
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Vol(s) : 1

Source Number : 3
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Source details : F2 FGA 27-JUL-67
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : (D J King and D F Renn)
Page(s) : 301-3
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Vol(s) : 51, 1971

Source Number : 5
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Page(s) : 23
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Vol(s) : 1979

Source Number : 6
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Source details : (P Stamper)
Page(s) : 247
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Vol(s) : 24, 1980

Source Number : 7
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Source details : SS Rev June 1987
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : (S M Youngs and J Clark)
Page(s) : 200-1
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Vol(s) : 25, 1981

Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 81-9
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Vol(s) : 40

Source Number : 10
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Source details : (P A Stamper)
Page(s) : 24-May
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Vol(s) : 1981

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Building
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence, Find

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant 1147
Monument End Date : 1147
Monument Start Date : 1147
Monument Type : Siege Castle, Motte And Bailey
Evidence : Levelled Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Building
Object Type : TILE
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 74 NE 9
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1956-09-26
End Date : 1956-09-26

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1979-01-01
End Date : 1980-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 243764