More information : (SP 08126383) Old Castle (NR) (Site of) (NAT). (1)
Studley: ".. In the Conqueror's time the greatest part of Studley was possessed by Will. fiz Corbuciones..... where he or some of his descendants had a castle, the ruines thereof is evidence...." (2)
The site of the Castle is marked by a circular rampart and ditch north of Studley church. Of its architectural history nothing is known, although some ruins were still standing in Dugdale's time. (3)
Dugdale's description indicates substantial masonry of a castle of some importance. (sic) It was "...of a motte and bailey type with presumably later buildings in stone erected within the bailey but it may have been a square stone keep". The site at present consists of "an artificially made platform, approximately circular in shape with no definite ditch except on the side next to the road where it is about 2' deep with a steep bank up to the platform which at its northern end is about 10' high..." All other traces of it, including the motte and the bailey enclosure bank, were erased in the 18th century by the rearrangement of the garden of the house (Castle Cottages) that now occupies the site, (SP06SE). At this time the moat was backfilled. (4)
The remains of a castle mound attaining a maximum height of 5.0m. Modern improvements have destroyed half the original mound and neither ditch nor bailey can now be traced. Published survey (25") correct. (5)
The Moated Sites Research Group suggest that the site was moated. (6)
King lists the site as a ringwork. (7)
Studley Castle is an example of a motte castle which is locally rare, only four such sites having been located in Warwickshire. The motte castle is thought to have been built ca.1135-40. Excavation has confirmed buried structures, the artefactual information giving a C12th-C13th date. (8) |