Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Olivers Battery
Hob Uid: 240419
Location : Hampshire Basingstoke and Deane Old Basing and Lychpit
Grid Ref : SU6679053520
Summary : Earthwork remains of a Medieval Motte and Bailey. The motte is 46 metres in diameter and 1.9 metres in height. The baileys are divided by a cross-bank, the western half of which has been ploughed out, and enclosed by a bank and outer ditch which is best preserved on the east. The ditch on the south has been mutilated by a track and its present state may not be original, though the present entrance does appear original. Scheduled.
More information : [SU 6679 5352] Oliver's Battery [GT]. (1) Small castle mound and bailey. (2) An earthwork shown on the maps as 'Oliver Cromwell's Battery', though its proper name is 'The Priest's Croft'. It is situated a short distance south-east of the river, in a position of no particular strength, and encloses a squarish area of about three acres. The area has irregular mound and depressions of 5' or so in vertical height, and looks as if the banks had been levelled down towards the centre, giving a shallow saucer-shaped appearance. A larger mound on the O.S. plan is much exaggerated and is little if any higher than other irregularities; it is 5' high , andmay perhaps be natural. The bank is best marked at the south-east and south-west corners, where it has been cut through for a gateway. There are irregular depressions along the north side as if the soil had been dug away. It is wanting at the centres of the north and west sides in a way that suggests there may have been entrances. The ditch is well marked along the east side, and the eastern part of the north side. CD vertical, 11'. No trace of foundations.The soil is loam, and in a state of nature would be covered by thick woodland. (3) In 945 King Edmund granted a certain 'monastic house in Basing called the king's horse croft' to his chaplain, Ethelnod, who granted it to St. Peter (late Hyde) Abbey, Winchester. The name 'King's horse-croft' is now applied to a mounded meadow close to the old ford at Pyot's Hill. This earthwork appears to be a motte with double bailey, situated where the probable course of the Silchester - Chichester Roman Road crosses the River Loddon. It is now much reduced by ploughing, the present diameter of the motte being 46.0m, with a height of 1.9m. The baileys are divided by a cross-bank, the western half of which has been ploughed out, and enclosed by a bank and outer ditch which is best preserved on the east. The ditch on the south has been mutilated by a track and its present state may not be original, though the present entrance, at the SW corner has the appearance of being original. The owner, Mrs R. Beddington, 'The Paddock', Basing, stated that the earthwork is known locally as 'Oliver's Battery' or 'Priest's Croft'. (5) Oliver's Battery (TI) MOTTE & BAILEY (LB). (6) No change. It has been further reduced by ploughing. Published 1/2500 survey revised. (7) Resurveyed at 1/1250 on MSD. (8)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1932.
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : "Archaeology in the Field", 1953, (O.G.S. Crawford),p.196.
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : F3 JGB 24-MAY-82
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : "Field Archaeology as illus. by Hants"., 1915, (J. P. Williams-Freeman), pp.311-2, 393. (Plan).
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Source Number : 4
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Vol(s) : 1911

Source Number : 4a
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Source details : Inf. Dr. Samuel Andrews.
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Source Number : 4b
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Source details : Dugdale, Mon., vii, 1014.
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Source Number : 4c
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Source details : Pat.22 Edw. III, m.23.
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 VJB 16-JUN-56
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : OS 6" 1961
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : F2 ASP 15-MAY-67
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte And Bailey
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : HA 36
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 24337
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 65 SE 4
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1956-06-16
End Date : 1956-06-16

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1967-05-15
End Date : 1967-05-15

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1974-01-01
End Date : 1974-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1982-05-24
End Date : 1982-05-24

Historic England Research Records

Olivers Battery