Hampstead Norreys Castle

Hampstead Norreys Castle
Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire, England
The motte of Hampstead Norreys Castle
Hampstead Norreys Castle is located in Berkshire
Hampstead Norreys Castle
Hampstead Norreys Castle
Coordinates51°28′50″N 1°14′23″W / 51.4806°N 1.2398°W / 51.4806; -1.2398
Grid referencegrid reference SU528760
TypeMotte and bailey
Site information
ConditionEarthworks

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

History[edit]

Hampstead Norreys Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle overlooking the village of Hampstead Norreys, 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[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  1. ^ a b Monument No. 237298 Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine, National Monuments Record, English Heritage, accessed 14 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b 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 Norreys Castle, Royal Berkshire History, accessed 14 June 2011.

51°28′50″N 1°14′28″W / 51.4805°N 1.2411°W / 51.4805; -1.2411