Hampstead Norris Castle

Hampstead Norris Castle was a Norman castle in the village of Hampstead Norris, Berkshire, England.

Hampstead Norris Castle
Hampstead Norris, Berkshire, England
The motte of Hampstead Norris Castle
Hampstead Norris Castle
Coordinates51.4806°N 1.2398°W / 51.4806; -1.2398
Grid referencegrid reference SU528760
TypeMotte and bailey
Site information
ConditionEarthworks

History

Hampstead Norris Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle overlooking the village of Hampstead Norris, Berkshire, England.[1] The motte is 25 m wide, and 4.2 m high, made of chalk.[2] The contours of the top suggest that a timber tower or defensive structure was built on the motte.[1] The site was originally believed to be a tumulus, until later work confirmed its Norman origins.[3] Local historian David Ford suspects that the castle may have been constructed after the Norman conquest of England by Theodoric the Goldsmith.[4]

Today the castle is surrounded by woodland and is a scheduled monument.[2]

See also

Bibliography

  • Grinsell, L.V. (1939) "Berkshire Barrows, Part IV," Berkshire Archaeological Journal 43, pp. 9-21.
  • Grinsell, L.V. (1936) "An Analysis and List of Berkshire Barrows," Berkshire Archaeological Journal 40, pp.20-58.

References

  1. Monument No. 237298 Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine, National Monuments Record, English Heritage, accessed 14 June 2011.
  2. Monument No. 237298 Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine, National Monuments Record, English Heritage, accessed 14 June 2011; Grinsell (1936), p.54.
  3. Grinsell (1936), p.54; Grinsell (1939), p.15.
  4. Hampstead Norris Castle, Royal Berkshire History, accessed 14 June 2011.

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