Monument Type(s):

• BAILEY (12th century to 14th century - 1100 AD? to 1399 AD?)

Summary

Inner bailey lying immediately to the west of the motte.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA6011 - 2005 Geophysical Survey of Hopton Castle, Shropshire by Stratascan
• ESA6307 - 2005 Earthwork survey at Hopton Castle, Shropshire by English Heritage
• ESA6415 - 2009 Geophysical Survey of Hopton Castle, Shropshire by GSB Prospection
• ESA6416 - 2009 Excavations at Hopton Castle by Time Team and Wessex Archaeology

Description

The Inner Bailey measures 35m internally N/S and 30m transversely. It contains the site of two buildings, indicated by rectangular hollows about 15m in length and 6-7m in width, orientated E/W. Within the southernmost hollow foundation remains of a N side wall are exposed. Heavy scatters of stone around the perimeter suggest the bailey to have been enclosed by a curtain wall, and at the SW corner is the site of a tower or turret, indicated by an embanked hollow 6m square. The enclosing ditch is 12m in width and up to 2.7m deep. A doorway in the W side of the keep probably gave access to the inner bailey. Below it a causeway projects into the motte ditch. <1>

The roughly rectangular inner bailey lies immediately to the west of the motte and has maximum internal dimensions of 40m north to south by 30m east to west. It is bounded on all sides by a well defined scarp falling to a ditch 12m wide and 2.6m deep. A concentration of stone around the upper edge of the bailey scarp suggests that it was originally surmounted by a curtain wall. A 6m square embanked hollow, positioned at the south west corner of the bailey is believed to represent the site of a tower or turret. In the north east quadrant of the bailey are two rectangular hollows; they lie parallel to each other and are orientated roughly east to west. The more northerly has dimensions of 16m long by 6m wide, the southerly, which has the remains of a foundation wall visible in its north side, is 15m long by 8m wide. Both are believed to represent the remains of rectangular domestic buildings associated with the occupation of the castle. <2>

To the west is the heavily ditched and ramparted sub-rectangular enclosure. The date of this enclosure is unknown; it could possibly be the original bailey to the supposed 12th century motte; a ring works in the absence of a motte; or contemporary with the 14th century keep and therefore a deliberate archaic element. This contains the remains of at least one corner tower, curtain wall and internal buildings. To the north the ditch is absent. At the extreme NE is a terminal, possibly a medieval tower or Civil war works. The presence of service buildings and stabling is demanded by the form of the tower however the almost square central depression is likely to be the ‘new brick house’ mentioned in early 17th century documentation. <3>

2005 geophysical survey identified high resistance responses, indicating possible stone remains, associated with the two corner towers (PRN 21677, PRN 21679) and the central building (PRN 21678). A further response was evident on the northern boundary. The whole area was suggested to have possible evidence of industrial activity due to significant amounts of magnetic debris. <4>

Within the Inner Bailey 2009 geophysical survey identified a large area of increased response possibly indicating structural remains and linear trends corresponding to a depression in the ground. It is thought that these features relate to a cellar and foundations of the ‘new brick house’ mentioned in early 17th century documents. The corner tower was also located in the south west corner of the inner bailey, in the form of a high resistance response. Excavations revealed substantial stone walling over this anomaly. Other, similar high resistance responses within this area may relate to the curtain wall or internal buildings. In the NE corner responses possibly represent structural remains, due to the rectangular form. However, some of these anomalies correlate with the earthworks marked on the current OS mapping and may relate to the defences. <5>

2009 Time Team investigation at Hopton Castle. Trench 1 was located across the elongated mounds (PRN 21691), identifying a bank, moat and structures associated with the medieval defences, Trench 2, 3 & 6 located the ‘new brick building’ (PRN 21678) and Trench 4 located the corner tower (PRN 21677). Trench 5 was positioned on the eastern edge of a possible structure directly in front of the motte. The earthworks here did not correspond with any underlying wall. Further demolition layers were encountered; however these contained much less rubble than other parts of the site. <6>

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1976, Ordnance Survey Record Card SO37NE27 (Card index). SSA4643.

<02> English Heritage, 1995, Scheduling Papers (Revised Scheduling, 22/07/1995) (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA4645.

<03> Bowden M, 2005, Hopton Castle, Shropshire: a survey of the earthworks (Field survey report). SSA23332.

<04> Elks D, 2005, Geophysical Survey Report, Hopton Castle, Shropshire (Geophysical survey report). SSA22428.

<05> Wood E et al, 2009, Geophysical survey report: Hopton Castle, Shropshire (Geophysical survey report). SSA23523.

<06> Hall N, 2010, Hopton Castle, Shropshire: archaeological evaluation report (Excavation report). SSA23525.

Sources

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