| More information : (SX 126 680) Cardinham Castle (NR). (1)
The remains of a motte and bailey castle built soon after the conquest, probably by Richard Fitz Turold, steward of the Count of Mortain. The descendants of Richard lived for two centuries in the castle, taking the name "Cardinan" after their place of residence. There are two enclosures, the higher almost circular, 35 yards diameter. It appears to have been a quarry for centuries from the uneven state of the mound. The ditch encircling the base of the mound at the NW may be seen. The bailey or lower enclosure is
approx 89 yards x 83 yards - it is fairly level and enclosed by traces of a mound, especially at the S side. (2-5)
The motte which is approximately 4.0 metres high has been extensively mutilated on its top and east side by surface stone digging. The erroneously described "ditch" on the north-west side is the result of modern stone quarrying. The bailey is generally well preserved on the west and south sides but the east side has apparently been cut away. There is no trace of the entrance. The north-south double bank and ditch to the east of the bailey is probably a flanking work as the slope is too steep for a hollow way. There are no obvious traces of a contemporary settlement
within the earthwork.
Divorced survey 1:2500. (6)
Listed by Cathcart King. (7)
In early 2022 a team from Historic England completed the first detailed analytical earthwork survey of Cardinham Castle. The castle comprises a sub-circular enclosure classed as a ringwork with a bailey to its south and was probably abandoned as a residence around 1270 when the Cardinham estate was broken up. The castle remains are entirely formed by earthworks though the outline of masonry buildings and an encircling wall are evident within the ringwork. Earlier accounts generally dismiss the earthworks occupying the ringwork as the result of quarrying and stone robbing but the survey has demonstrated that they are the remains of five buildings and a probable gatehouse. Vestiges of settlement remains were recorded to the west of the castle bailey. The settlement remains take the form of low grass-covered earthworks and represent the remnants of structures, boundaries and enclosures from medieval and post-medieval periods. (8)
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