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Summary

Berry Castle, a defensive earthwork enclosure of probable Roman date is shown on 19th century map. It is also visible on 1947 aerial photographs.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1002539: Berry Castle
• SHINE: Berry Castle. Double banked square enclosure of Roman or medieval date and possible deserted medeival settlement

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 35599
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS81NW/1
• Old SAM County Ref: 470
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS81NW2

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Roman to VII - 43 AD to 700 AD (Between))

Full description

Woollcombe, H., 1839-1850, Woollcombe Manuscript (Un-published). SDV16214.

Rectangular enclosure of about 2/3 acre. Single bank about 13 feet high. Other details: Worksheet in parish file.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'Berry Castle (Camp)' shown as an eartkwork on 19th century map.

Wall, J. C., 1906, Ancient Earthworks, 613 (Article in Monograph). SDV341465.

Listed as simple defensive enclosure and is small quadrangular fortification surrounded by a bank 2.4 meters high and internal ditch 1.8 meters deep. Entrance must have been on south side and destroyed by making the road. Other details: Plan.

Royal Air Force, 1947, CPE/UK 1989, 3191-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337513.

Clearly visible on 1947 aerial photographs, though the prints are of poor quality. Other details: DCC Nos 20/23-4.

Ministry of Works, 1961, Berry Castle (Schedule Document). SDV337508.

Berry Castle enclosure 29 meters long by 30 meters wide with a 17 meter wide ditch. Small sub-rectangular enclosure, possibly of Roman date. The interior is level, defended by a rampart which is ploughed down, and a broad ditch with indications of a counterscarp bank. Entrance from the east in centre of one side.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1970, SS81NW2 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV337511.

A square enclosure consisting of a ditch 0.8 meters deep with inner and outer banks of upcast 0.4 meters high. A causewayed entrance on the east but no suggestion of entrance on south. Situated on high ground and on a slight northern slope, but within about two miles is encompassed by higher ground. Other details: Plan & sections.

Grinsell, L. V., 1970, The Archaeology of Exmoor, 201 (Monograph). SDV1641.

Silvester, R. J. + Higham, R. A., 1980, Domestic Enclosures of Probable Medieval Date, 63-5 (Article in Serial). SDV55518.

Other details: Map.

Illegible, 1984, Berry Castle (Worksheet). SDV358431.

Griffith, F. M., 1987, DAP/HW, 6-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337520.

Griffith, F. M., 1988, Untitled Source (Site Visit). SDV337514.

Site still in good upstanding condition, under pasture. The location appears unlikely for a Medieval settlement site.

Griffith, F. M., 1989, DAP/MC, 9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337521.

Richards, B., 1991, Berry Castle - Earthwork & ?Platform (Worksheet). SDV337515.

Four corners of inner bank appear higher than middle sections. Landowner reports a stone lined drain crossing his east to west drain as if running downhill from the northwest corner of the earthwork, where there are slight signs of disturbance. The 1839 Tithe Map gives the field name 'Castle Field'.

Plummer, M. + Plummer, C., 1991, Berry Castle Earthworks (Worksheet). SDV337516.

Visited on 19th August 1991. Two rectangular platforms visible 25 meters to the west.

Horner, B., 1994, DAP/WC, 31-36a (Aerial Photograph). SDV39277.

1994, Untitled Source (Photograph). SDV337517.

Other details: Slide.

National Monuments Record, 2010, 35599 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV345387.

Earthwork remains of a double banked square enclosure; most probably a homestead moat.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

'Berry Castle Earthwork' shown on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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