Summary : Small mutilated Medieval motte surviving as a largely natural mound. Thought originally to have been a barrow with a slab visible at the top interpreted as a cist. There is an alleged unfinished bailey to north though this is not proven. The mound, which is largely natural, has a base diameter of about 25 metres and a height of 4.8 metres on the west side. Around the north side of the summit, which has a diameter of 10 metres, is an earthen bank, 4 metres wide and 0.7 metres high, which may be a ringwork. There are no traces of a bailey. Scheduled. |
More information : SO 35129933 Tumulus (NR) (1)
The Knapp, a round barrow. From The Knapp a (? natural) mound 15 yards wide extends 39 yards north from the hedge. Further down the hill (SO 35169938) is a very low circular bank 13 ft in diameter with three very small stones across it. (2)
Certainly a motte, with bailey, perhaps unfinished, to the north. Visited with N Thomas and J Holmes 31.8.58. (3)
At SO 35139936 is what appears to be a natural mound, bounded on its north and east by three straight sections of low bank. (a)
The Knapp is scheduled as a round barrow, and is not included by Hogg and C King in their list of Welsh border castles (Arch Camb 112 & 119). (4)
A small, mutilated motte situated upon the S end of a small, natural ridge, with commanding views in all directions. The mound, which is largely natural, has a base diameter of about 25.0m and a height of 4.8m on the W side. The S side has been cut about by the construction of a cottage, The Napp, and its boundary fences and banks. Around the N side of the summit, which has a diameter of 10.0m, is an earthen bank, 4.0m wide, 0.7m high, which may be evidence for this work being a ring work, the interior being about 2.0m above the level of the ridge to the N, or it may result from excavation into the mound from the S, for soil. There are no traces of a bailey, the ridge to the N being entirely natural.
Nothing was seen on the ground of the 'straight sections of low bank' nor of the circular bank, the field is of hummocky rough pasture which slopes to the W, N and E around the end of the ridge.
Published survey (25") revised. (5)
SO 351 993. The Knapp (or Napp) round barrow, Pennerley. Scheduled. (6) |