Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Locking Castle
Hob Uid: 192672
Location : North Somerset Locking
Grid Ref : ST3638060870
Summary : Earthworks of a medieval motte and bailey on Carberry Hill. Excavations in 1902-3 located a small drystone chamber with a flight of steps in one corner. Finds recovered included pottery, coin and part of a sword. The motte and bailey was surveyed by Avon County Council in 1981. To the east of the castle was a very deep holloway, which predated the castle and formed the east boundary of the bailey. The west side was bounded by a 1.5 metre high bank with a slight external ditch which probably continued round the motte. The motte is situated to the southern end of the bailey and was only 2 metres high with a terrace half way, the upper part was presumably the remains of the building excavated in 1902-3. There is a local tradition that there was a windmill on the motte.
More information : [ST 36386087] Motte & Bailey [L.B.]. (1) At Locking is a motte and bailey known locally as The Hills; it is sited on a hill called Carberry. The motte is only four feet high and has a partly filled ditch: to the north is a bailey with a bank 2-3 ft. high forming its west side. An excavation in 1902-3 for the erection of a flag pole (Coronation of Edward VII), exposed a small chamber of drystone walling and rubble 9'4" square and 7 ft. deep: it had a flight of stone steps in one corner. Within the chamber were found fragments of an iron sword, a silver penny of Edward IV-V, nails, pottery sherds (some modern), burnt bones and a perforated bone. (2-5) The defensive strength of a motte and bailey is dependent on the skillful utilisation of very steep natural slopes on the north and east. The motte does not appear to have been completely surrounded by a ditch, and the remains of the building on its top are concealed beneath a grass covered, circular, mound. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6) Additional reference (7) ST 3638 6087: Locking Castle earthwork was surveyed by R Iles 1981 in preparation for a site management plan by S Avon CC. (see illus card for survey). The earthworks lie on an oval shaped knoll. To the E of the castle is a very deep holloway, predating it and forming the E boundary of the bailey. The W side is bounded by a 1.5m high bank with a slight external ditch which probably continued round the motte. The motte lies to the S end of the bailey and is only c.2m high with a terrace half way, the upper part is presumably the remains of a building excavated in 1902-3. There is a local tradition that there was a windmill on the motte (8) Locking Castle shown on aerial photograph (9) Listed by Cathcart King. (10) The earthworks of this castle can be seen on lidar imagery. (11)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1962.
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Knight FA. 1902. Seaboard of Mendip, 383, 400.
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : LIDAR ST3162 Environment Agency 16D 09-DEC-2008
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Source Number : 3
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Vol(s) : 49, 1904

Source Number : 4
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Source details : 1907 edition
Page(s) : 514
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Burrow EJ. 1924. Earthworks and Camps of Somerset, 120
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : F1 GHP 04-FEB-65
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Burrow E. 1924. Ancient Earthworks and Camps of Somerset, 20-1
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Source Number : 8
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Page(s) : 53-54
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Vol(s) : 1, 1982

Source Number : 9
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Source details : Avon Sites and Monuments Record. 1984. The Past from the Air, 16
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Source Number : 10
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Page(s) : 443
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Vol(s) : 2

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Prehistoric, Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Hollow Way
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte And Bailey, Hollow Way, Windmill
Evidence : Earthwork, Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Post Medieval
Monument End Date : 1901
Monument Start Date : 1540
Monument Type : Windmill
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : AV 174
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 22825
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External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (North Somerset)
External Cross Reference Number : MNS204
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External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (North Somerset)
External Cross Reference Number : MNS205
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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 36 SE 3
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Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1902-01-01
End Date : 1903-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1965-02-04
End Date : 1965-02-04

Associated Activities :
Activity type : LIDAR SURVEY
Start Date : 2010-01-01
End Date : 2010-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2018-01-01
End Date : 2018-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Locking Castle