Monument Type(s):

• RINGWORK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A good example of a medieval ringwork (earthwork castle), of particular interest because of its apparent association with Caus Castle, 1km to the west.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA238 - 1971 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA239 - Undated field observation by English Heritage
• ESA240 - 1986 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA8727 - 2018 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8625 - 2014 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8621 - 2015 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8361 - 2016 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8362 - 2017 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA9067 - 2019 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England

Description

The ringwork at Hawcocks Mount was possibly the predecessor to Caus Castle, SA 249. It stands in a field which in 1361 was known as Aldescausefield (Old Caus Field) subsequently corrupted to Hawcocks Field, and was situated on the old road from Westbury to Montgomery <1a><5>
The mount had an escarpment from 17ft to 21 ft high, ramparted by a breastwork 5ft high. the ditch is 7ft deep on the S, but has been destroyed on the NW side. The entrance is at the east <1b>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: High score as one of 20 Ringworks <15>

Scheduling affirmed in 1995. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes Hawcocks Mount, the remains of a ringwork castle situated on an east facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Rea, along which ran the old routeway from Shrewsbury to Montgomery. The ringwork stands in a field which was known in 1361 as Aldescausefield (Old Caus Field) subsequently this became corrupted to Hawcocks Field. The name is believed to refer to Caus Castle, a major Norman castle and borough which lies approximately lkm to the west. It is possible that the ringwork is associated with the larger site and that it may be the predecessor of the castle. The ringwork is roughly circular in plan with an overall diameter of approximately 72m and includes an outer ditch, scarped rampart and inner bank. The ditch survives as a substantial earthwork, averaging 8m wide and 2m deep around the west, south and south east sides of the site; it remains water-filled around the south east quarter. A causeway 3m wide crosses the ditch in the south west quarter of the site. Around the north and north east sides of the site the ditch is no longer visible but it will survive as a buried feature of similar proportions. A substantial scarp rises from the ditch to a height 7m and is surmounted around its upper edge by a pronounced bank 4m wide and 1.5m high, interrupted in its northern quarter by a possible entrance gap 5m wide. The interior of the ringwork is roughly oval in plan with dimensions of 33m north to south by 28m transversely. Its surface is level with no visible earthworks. <16>

Photographed during aerial photographic survey in 2010. <17>

The ring work described by the previous authority was seen as earthworks and mapped from aerial photographs during the Marches Uplands Mapping Project. NMR CPAT SJ3407/1-3 10-FEB-1987. <18>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.