NHER Number:3449
Type of record:Monument
Name:Castle Acre Castle

Summary

The substantial ruins of a Norman castle, which were extensively excavated during the 1970s and 1980s. A Late Saxon hall with modest defences, which was held by a Saxon thegn called Toki, was replaced by a stone building after the Conquest when the castle was held by William of Warenne. This building was more like a country house than a castle, and was replaced by a keep in the 12th century, when the defences were also strengthened. The outer bailey was also replanned in the 12th century, and turned into a planned market town, which had a market place at Pale's Green. The castle became derelict later in the medieval period, probably by the 14th century.

Images

The ruins of the castle at Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology ServiceThe earthworks of medieval buildings in the bailey, Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology ServiceThe ruins of the keep at Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology ServiceThe earthwork defences around the keep, Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology ServiceThe ruins of the western gatehouse, Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology ServiceThe bailey at Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology ServiceThe ruins of the keep, Castle Acre © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
Grid Reference:TF 8182 1505
Map Sheet:TF81NW
Parish:CASTLE ACRE, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Monument Types

Associated Finds

Protected Status:Scheduled Monument; Listed Building

Full description

Norman motte and bailey castle and town defences, wrongly called a Roman fort in the past.
Original site of priory in 1089.
Scheduled site enlarged 1998.

1780.
Well excavated.

1782.
Keys found.

1851.
Pottery found, thought to be Roman but is more probably Late Saxon or medieval.

1959.
Neolithic axe found.

1974 to 1982.
Full excavation of castle and trial trenches of town defences revealed a possible Late Saxon hall which was superceded by the castle.
The Hall stood on the motte, and was altered to form a rectangular keep but was never completed.
Motte was raised to form a shell keep.
Restoration in 17th century.
Finds included prehistoric sherds and flints, Roman, Middle Saxon and Late Saxon pottery as well as medieval.
Two limekilns excavated.
Post medieval witchcraft deposit, with a human skull and the skeleton of a kitten.
See (S1) and (S2).

1985 to 1986.
Excavations outside east bailey by NAU.

1995.
Medieval sherd found.

2000.
Additional earthwork features noted.

For full details, photos and press cuttings see report in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 9 Feb 2000

1986.
Juvenile burial discovered by workmen digging post hole(s) within castle.
No details of location of find.
See report by [1] in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 19 July 1999.

January 2000.
Earthwork survey at 1:1000 with brief additional notes in file.
See (S3).
B. Cushion (NLA) 8 February 2000.

September 2001. Watching brief on route of BT cable.
2 areas of rammed chalk, thought to be the foundations of post medieval buildings.
Tile, clazed red earthernware and nail.
A. Hutcheson (NLA), 3 October 2001.

2002. Section 17 Management Agreement.
See copy in office file.
Concluded with English Heritage.
H. Paterson (A&E), 4 April 2002.

2002.
Extensive scrub clearance and removal of rubbish deposited over decades has been undertaken under a Section 17 agreement concluded between owners and English Heritage.
The wet bank and ditch has been cleared of scrub by hand cutting.
Selective tree surgery will be carried out on east side in December.
New fencing erected at end and alongside churchyard.
H. Paterson (A&E), 3 April 2002.

August 2002. Watching brief on erection of 5 new interpretation panels.
No significant archaeological remains.
H. Paterson (A&E), August 2002.

(S4) examines the historical context of the castle, concluding that it represents a remarkable continuity of high status settlement across the Conquest years, with the new stone castle built on the site of Toki's manor house.
D. Gurney (NLA), 14 May 2003.

November 2008. Watching Brief.
Five architectural fragments were recovered during repairs to a large erosion scar in the outer bailey mound. Four pieces were of Caen limestone and one was clunch. Tool marks are clearly visible on the Caen stone.
See (S5) for more details.
See also (S6).

Sources and further reading

---Secondary File: Secondary file.
---Photograph: CBY 23, 25. CBH 12, CBY 19-21. JM 3-6, CRL, CRM, FHW 32-36.
---Aerial Photograph: see file.
---Unpublished document: Paterson, H.. 2001. BT Works at Castle Acre 2001.
---Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1994. TF 8115AGF - AGG.
---Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1997. TF 8115AGT.
---Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TF 8115AGH - AGP.
---Unpublished document: Paterson, H.. 2002. Watching Brief Report.
---Bibliographic reference: Cherry, J.. 1985. Castles of the Conqueror IN British Museum Soceity Bulletin. no. 49.
---Bibliographic reference: 1982. Eastern Daily Press. 23 March.
---Bibliographic reference: 1985. Eastern Daily Press. 19 January.
---Bibliographic reference: 1985. Eastern Daily Press. 21 January.
---Bibliographic reference: 1985. Eastern Daily Press. 9 February.
---Bibliographic reference: 1985. Eastern Daily Press. 13 February.
---Bibliographic reference: 1986. Eastern Daily Press. 14 March.
---Bibliographic reference: 1999. Lynn News. 28 February.
---Bibliographic reference: 1999. Eastern Daily Press. 25 June.
---Scheduling record: English Heritage. Scheduling Report.
---Unpublished document: Hobbs, B.. 2008. NAU Archaeology Report No. 2007. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Castle Acre Castle, Castle Acre.
---Bibliographic reference: Eastern Daily Press. 2008. A reminder of our rich heritage. 20 August.
S1Bibliographic reference: Coad, J. and Streeten, A. D. F.. 1982. Excavations at Castle Acre Castle, Norfolk, 1972 to 1977: Country House and Castle of the Norman Earls of Surrey, IN Archaelogical Journal. vol. 139. vol.139 p.138ff. pp138-301
S2Bibliographic reference: Coad, J., Streeten, A.D.F. and Warmington, R.. 1987. Excavations at Castle Acre Castle, Norfolk, 1975-1982. The Bridges, Lime Kilns, and Eastern Gatehouse IN The Archaeological Journal. vol 144, pp 256-307. vol 144, pp 256-308
S3Bibliographic reference: Cushion, B. and Davison, A.. 2003. Earthworks of Norfolk IN East Anglian Archaeology 104. vol. 104. p 165
S4Bibliographic reference: Liddiard, R.. 2000. Landscapes of Lordship. pp 28-31, 44-45
S6Slide: Slide. 52-69

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43123Related to: Castle Acre planned town (Monument)

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