Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Millsome Castle
Hob Uid: 34190
Location : Devon Mid Devon Coldridge
Grid Ref : SS6666005800
Summary : A medieval motte and bailey on a natural rise above the valley of the River Taw. It survives as an oval mound which measures 49 metres from north to south and 43 metres from east to west at its base, and is 9 metres high. To the north there is a section of ditch which measures 15 metres wide and up to 3 metres deep. This peters out to the south at both the western and eastern sides of the mound where it is preserved as a buried feature. A bailey is thought to exist on the western side. The castle is thought to date to the mid 1100s. Scheduled.
More information : (SS 66650580) Millsome Castle (NR) (Site of).(1) This is a castle mound, 48.0m overall with a flat top 22.0m in diameter. The mound averages 2.5m high and a vestigial berm around much of the circumference suggests an infilled ditch. On the N side where the natural defence is slighter there is a ditch 1.0m deep with an outer bank of stone rubble and earth 2.0m high. The whole area is densely overgrown with bramble and it is difficult to see whether any form of bailey was intended but it seems unlikely. OS 1:2500 survey revised.(2) SS 666058: Millsome Castle, scheduled.(3) On a knoll beside the River Taw, obscured by dense vegetation. Enclosing ditch survives on N side, 1m deep. Central area 2-3m high and 20m in diameter. Foundation date uncertain, possibly 1130s-40s.(a)Listed as a class D ring work.(b)(4) There is a small bailey attached to the W side of the motte. this bailey lies inside a larger enclosure, possibly a second bailey, or the NW side of the motte (5). Scheduled listing. (6) Listed by Cathcart King. (7)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1906
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : 28/06/1971
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : Devon
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Devon SMR
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Source Number : 4a
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Source details : Higham RA. 1979. Castles of Mid Devon, PhD Thesis, Exeter University
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Source Number : 4b
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : RCHME Rapid Survey Pilot 14/02/1991 P Pattison
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : 24/10/1997
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Source Number : 7
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Page(s) : 115
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Mid 1100s
Monument End Date : 1166
Monument Start Date : 1133
Monument Type : Motte, Bailey
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 30304
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : DV 754
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SS 60 NE 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1971-06-28
End Date : 1971-06-28

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1983-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1991-02-01
End Date : 1991-03-01

Historic England Research Records

Millsome Castle