Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Oswestry Castle
Hob Uid: 65937
Location : Shropshire Oswestry
Grid Ref : SJ2906029810
Summary : Medieval motte and bailey castle possibly extant in 1086 surviving as an earthwork mound although the bailey is completely destroyed. Stone castle built in 1148 by Madoc ap Meredyth and demolished between 1647 and 1673. Masses of masonry still survive. Scheduled.
More information : Oswestry Castle was probably built in 1148 by Madoc ap Meredyth, but an earlier fortification probably existed here as it is mentioned in Domesday. The castle was demolished between 1647 and 1673. There was a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas within the castle. (1-3) The Castle Mount is oval in plan; it is 36 feet high, 96 feet from east to west and 63 feet from north to south. Parry-Jones (Authy 2) believed the mound to be natural rather than man-made. A few masses of masonry and concrete are all that remains of the castle, which is mentioned in Domesday as having been built by Rainald c.1086. There is no visible evidence of the bailey except in the names 'Bailey Street" and 'Baileyhead'. Published earthworks (25") correct. (4) All trace of the bailey has been obliterated by modern development. (5) (SJ 29062981) Castle (6) The only remains of the castle are a few fragments of the keep on top of the castle mound. The masonry is very rude but strong. The mound is artificial though it does stand on high ground. The moat, which surrounded the mound, is completely filled up. (7) SJ 290298 Remains of Castle. Scheduled. (8-9) Listed by Cathcart King. (10) Scheduled, National Number 33815. (11) The castle mound is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and has been mapped by RCHME's Marches Uplands Mapping Project. (12)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : (R W Eyton)
Page(s) : 20
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Vol(s) : 10 - 1887

Source Number : 2
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Source details : (J Parry-Jones)
Page(s) : 107-73
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Vol(s) : 17 - 1894

Source Number : 11
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Source details : Schedule anendment 25-Aug-2000
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Source Number : 12
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Source details : NMR SJ 2929/1-4 (CPT 13939/581-4) 18-JUN-1986
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Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 271
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Vol(s) : 1968

Source Number : 4
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Source details : (Wall & Downman)
Page(s) : 316,386
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Vol(s) : 1908

Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 DS 23-JAN-67
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : OS 1:10000 1980
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Source Number : 7
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Source details :
Page(s) : 350-1
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Source Number : 8
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Source Number : 9
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Page(s) : 7
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Source Number : 10
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Page(s) : 427
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Vol(s) : Feb-83

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte, Bailey, Castle, Keep, Domestic Chapel
Evidence : Earthwork, Destroyed Monument, Ruined Building, Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : destroyed 1673
Monument End Date : 1673
Monument Start Date : 1647
Monument Type : Castle
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : Salop 203
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 33815
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : MORPH2
External Cross Reference Number : MU.443.1
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SJ 22 NE 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1967-01-23
End Date : 1967-01-23

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

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1998-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Oswestry Castle