More information : Ascott Earl: SP 297184. A motte and kidney-shaped bailey, first noted during field survey in 1946-7. The south side of the motte can be traced and its remaining outline partly determined by property boundaries. In 1956 a small excavation showed that the bailey bank was formed of piled Lias clay, and occupation debris found 3-4ft below the top of the north edge of the motte side included 11th to 12th century pottery and one sherd of the Iron Age. (1)
This small earthen motte and bailey castle recently had a drainage ditch dug across the north side of the bailey revealing a rampart built up of deposits of yellow clay. Threats by the farmer to bulldoze and level the earthworks resulted in an emergency `scheduling' of the site. (Sited from plan: SP 29701844). (2,3)
SP 29701845. The mutilated remains of a motte and bailey situated on the east bank of the River Evenlode.
The motte has a base diameter of 50.0 to 56.0m and a height of 3.5m, and the top measures 45.0m north east to south west by 30.0m transversely. Much of the mound is occupied by houses, farm buildings and gardens, but there is a short stretch of an earthen bank or rampart on the north side of the summit, 4.0m in width and 0.6m in height. The bailey on the south west is crescent-shaped and measures 70.0m north to south by 30.0m transversely. It is bounded externally by a scarp, 1.7m high, and is separated from the motte by a ditch, 10.0m in width and 0.8m in depth, which is crossed by a causeway to the motte, 4.0m wide.
The northern end of the bailey is now being obscured by dumping farm rubbish.
1:2500 AM survey transferred to PFD. (4)
SP 297185: Motte and bailey castle at Ascot Earl, scheduled. (5,6)
SP 297184: Ascot-under-Wychwood No 2, Ascot Earl. A damaged motte andbailey. It had more substantial earthworks than No 1 (SP 31 NW 1) andmay have been earlier (before c.1130). The earthworks are damaged. (7)
Scheduled listing. (8) |