More information : [SU 4299 6661] CASTLE MOUND [G.T.] (1)
There is an apparently unfinished castle mound on the northern margin of Hamstead Marshall Park [see plan AO/LP/63/96] for which there is no documentary evidence. (2-3)
This is an unfinished circular motte with surrounding ditch.
Only the N.W. quadrant appears to be finished and, moving anti-clockwise from it, the work becomes progressively less complete until on the N.E. it is merely a setting-out ditch with a slight inner bank.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
The site was surveyed by RCHME staff during May 1986, at the request of the Berkshire County Planning Department.
The site comprises an unfinished motte with no trace of a bailey. The mound, which is circular in plan stands to a maximum height of 7m above the ditch bottom on the finished NW side. It declines in height southwards and on the SE and E there is no mound as such only the marking out bank for its base.
For further information see report held in archive. See also SU 46 NW 11. (5)
The following feature was mapped from good quality air photographs:-
Medieval motte, seen as earthworks. The incomplete, oval enclosure, 70m by 60m, defined by 1 ditch was centred at SU 4299 6661. (Morph No. BE.19.21.1)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (6)
Listed by Cathcart King. (7) |