Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Snodhill Castle
Hob Uid: 106107
Location : County of Herefordshire Peterchurch
Grid Ref : SO3220040370
Summary : The castle was established in the late 11th or early 12th century, and was extant 1195-6. It consisted of a motte and bailey, and possibly an outer enclosure. Belonging to the family of Chandos in the 13th to 15th centuries, it was noted as ruinous in 1353, but ordered to be held against Glyndower in 1403. The earthwork remains of the motte and bailey have been mapped from aerial photographs and surveyed on the ground. The motte is mounted by a masonry keep that had 12 sides. A curtain wall runs directly from the keep around the bailey enclosure which is partly surrounded by a ditch. There are remains of mural towers to the north and south-east. Scheduled.
More information : (SO 322403) SNODHILL CASTLE (NR) (remains of) (NAT). (1) Snodhill Castle belonged to the family of Chandos in the 14th and 15th centuries and consisted of a mound, bailey and outer enclosure. The remains of the keep are of c1200 but some remodelling appears to have been made to the bailey and its surrounding curtain-wall in the 14th century (see plan). The earthworks form a good example of those of a strongly fortified border castle. (2) Snodhill Castle. No change. Published survey 25" revised. The earthworks to the north of the castle, depicted on OS 25", are hollow ways and are not necessarily contemporary. (3) SO 322 404. Motte and bailey established on a hillock, probably in the 11th century. Extant 1195-6 in the hands of the Crown, it is probably the castle of 'Strate' which was being restored to Robert de Chandos in 1197. Noted as ruinous in 1353, but ordered to be held against [Owain] Glendower in 1403. (4) Additional reference. (5-6) The hollow ways have been reinterpreted as fishponds. (7) The earthwork remains of the motte and bailey described by the previous authorities were seen centred at SO 3220 4037 and mapped from aerial photographs. The motte mound is centred at SO 3217 4037. The castle remains were masked by trees so could not be mapped in their entirety. (8) Additional reference. (9) Snodhill Castle, and its earthwork remains have been re-surveyed using lidar images and aerial photographs as part of theHistoric England: Snodhill Castle and Landscape Settings Survey and Investigation. This has identified the surviving remains of the motte and bailey as well as traces of the trackway to the north of the mound and evidence of quarrying below the castle. (10) The earthworks and masonry remains were surveyed at 1:1000, including the trackways and quarries to the north of the castle, in conjunction with the work of Authority 10. This confirmed that the motte and bailey castle was re-built in stone probably in a piecemeal fashion, though there may have been an early stone-built hall from an early date. Features previously identified as fishponds on the northern slopes below the castle are quarries served by the trackways mentioned by previous authorities. (11)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1964
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 213, PLAN
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : Phillips, N. 2006. 'The earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng, AD1050-1250'. BAR
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : Historic England Res Rep Series 76/2017
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : F1 MHB 21-SEP-71
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : (D J Cathcart King)
Page(s) : 210,213,217, FN
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Vol(s) : 1, 1983

Source Number : 5
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Source details : sketch plan
Page(s) : 14C
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Vol(s) : 48, Jan 1988

Source Number : 6
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Source details : sketch plan
Page(s) : 243, 244-5,
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : EH RSM Schedule 15/07/1996
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : NMR SO 3240/1-3 24-MAY-1990
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Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 189-92
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Vol(s) : vol.2

Source Number : 10
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Source details : LIDAR SO3240 Environment Agency DTM 05-APR-2006
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Ruinous by 1353
Monument End Date : 1353
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Castle, Motte And Bailey, Fishpond, Shell Keep, Curtain Wall
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant by 1195
Monument End Date : 1195
Monument Start Date : 1195
Monument Type : Motte And Bailey, Fishpond, Shell Keep, Castle
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Held in 1403
Monument End Date : 1403
Monument Start Date : 1403
Monument Type : Castle
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : HW 34
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 27509
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Hereford & Worcestershire)
External Cross Reference Number : 1557
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : MORPH2
External Cross Reference Number : MU.78.1
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SO 34 SW 13
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1971-09-21
End Date : 1971-09-21

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2016-01-01
End Date : 2017-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2016-01-01
End Date : 2016-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MANAGEMENT SURVEY
Start Date : 2016-01-01
End Date : 2017-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2017-01-01
End Date : 2017-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Snodhill Castle