Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Maesbury Castle
Hob Uid: 200279
Location : Somerset Mendip St. Cuthbert Out
Grid Ref : ST6100047160
Summary : A small multivallate Iron Age hillfort with defences enclosing the summit of a round hilltop, on the southern side of the Mendip Hills. The earthworks are oval in plan, with two lines of ramparts enclosing an inner area of 2.8ha. The two ramparts are nor always concentric, and there is a gap between them, particularly at the western entrance.
More information : [ST 610471] Maesbury Castle [T.I.] Hill Fort [G.T.] (1) This is an Iron Age, bivallate, contour hill fort enclosing about seven acres. The inner bank is mostly 5ft. high but increases to 10ft. at the east end of the camp. There are entrances on the S.E. and N.W. and the latter appears to be original. It formerly had an outturned bank on its S. side. Gray (3) believes the S.E. gap to be original, and here the bank shows traces of a stone core. Also on the S.E. is a much ploughed down bank, (H-I), [See Illustrations Card] about 1ft. high by 10ft. wide, with a shallow outer ditch; it appears to be an outwork. (2-4) Maesbury, a bi-vallate hillfort which presents some unusual features. Both the opposed entrances have been damaged: that to the N.W. has ramparts abutting at right-angles and a slight ditch, extending N.W. fom the S. side of the entrance, suggests an embryonic out-turning. The "outwork" at the S.E. could possibly have been intended for another out-turned or covered entrance. On the W. side scarping of the main rampart has not been completed, thus leaving a berm at the original ground level between rampart and ditch. The outer rampart is also incomplete. It is simply an interspace on the S.W. side, a weak single bank on the S. & E. sides and a double bank on the N. Throughout, the impression gained is that Maesbury is an unfinished hillfort. Re-surveyed at 1/2500. (5) Additional reference. (6) ST 611472: Maesbury Castle, scheduled. (7) Maesbury, originally called "Marksbury", mentioned in boundary charterof 702. (8) Double-edged tanged knife from Maesbury - detailed account. (9) ST 610 471. Maesbury. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 2.4ha. (10)

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Source details : Ordnance Survey 6" (Provisional) 1960
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Source details : English Heritage Schedule Entry 31/01/1997
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Source details : First OS Archaeology Field Investigator 27/09/1966
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : Burrow E 1924 Ancient Earthworks and Camps of Somerset pp 80-1
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Source details : English Heritage SAM List Somerset 1987 p 4
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Source Number : 9
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Source Number : 10
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
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Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Multivallate Hillfort
Evidence : Earthwork

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : SO 54
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External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 29033
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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 64 NW 16
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Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1966-09-27
End Date : 1966-09-27

Historic England Research Records

Maesbury Castle