More information : (SU 04889448) Earthwork (NR). (1)
A ring-work about 160 ft by 180 ft and a bailey, in a field known as Hall's Close (2), 'Hell's Claws (3)', or 'The Battlefield' (4) in which there are a number of banks and ditches (2).
Excavations by G M Knocker for the Cricklade Historical Society in 1959 revealed that the ditch surrounding the ringwork was lined with puddled clay, and revetted with brushwood, and the bank contained a drystone wall.
The large quantity of pottery found has been dated by Jope as early 12th - 13th C (2) which would support the dating of St J O'Neil's theory that it was the site of a fortified manor of Stephen's time, and may have been the head of the de Keynes household (4). Renn however considers it may have been the site of a 'castle' captured by Stephen in 1139 and described as being at South Cerney (see SU 09 NW 11) (5). (2-6)
The ringwork, centred SU 04899450, is sub-square and consists of a slightly raised banked area containing many small scarps, presumably the sites of buildings, surrounded by a strong defensive ditch. The adjoining internally banked bailey to the West and south forms, with the ringwork, a ditched rectangle measuring about 140 by 85 metres. Two slight hollows leading off the ditch to the south appear to be connected with the earthwork, though their purpose is obscure, as is that of a deep depression adjacent to the junction of the more westerly hollow with the main ditch.
There seems little to support Renn's contention that this is the site of the castle captured by Stephen as that at South Cerney would seem better to fit the description. (See SU 09 NW 11). (7)
The medieval ringwork and bailey described by the previous authorities were seen as earthworks and mapped from good quality air photographs as part of the RCHME: Thames Valley NMP Project. No additional data was added by this survey.
(Morph No. TG.85.23.1-2). (8)
The form of the earthworks and results of excavation is consistent with a short-term fortification subsequently adapted as a manorial residence of the de Keynes family. (9) |