Summary
The earthworks of this Norman motte and bailey castle can be seen on aerial photographs and on the ground. The castle went out of use soon after 1431. A circular ditched motte and a bailey to the south can be seen at the site. There may have been a 12th century stone keep on the motte and a barbican or fortified entranceway between the motte and bailey.
Images
| Grid Reference: | TG 2053 1567 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG21NW |
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| Parish: | HORSFORD, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
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Monument Types
Associated Finds
- POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
| Protected Status: | Scheduled Monument |
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Full description
Motte and Bailey castle; decayed soon after 1431. Known as Castle Hill or Castle Yards. Circular ditched motte with circular bailey to south. Motte not appreciably higher than bailey bank now. Damaged by ploughing in recent years.
Aerial photographs suggest a stone keep on motte (12th century?) and perhaps barbican between motte and bailey. Some 14th century antiquities found here illustrated in (S1) in the NCM.
Rim sherds, probably medieval but perhaps Roman.
3 May 1977. Visit.
Detailed examination not undertaken. Whole field including earthworks now under pasture. Bailey bank is in better condition than might be expected after past damage; east side covered only in grass, west side higher and steeper on exterior, with bushes growing on it. An interesting point is why there is a public right of way running up to the south side of the castle and then stopping. Was the site reused? Note also the names 'Black Park' and 'Park Farm' to the north - indicating park of castle?
See (S2), (S3), (S4) and (S5).
(S5) is based on remarks by M. Knights to Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society.
Aerial photographs Norfolk and Norwich Aero Club about 1933 to 1938. NAU TG2015E-I taken 17 July 1979 and 4 June 1980 etc.
E. Rose (NAU).
(S5) gives a plan of castle showing it same as now.
E. Rose (NAU).
1987.
Castle badly damaged by ploughing. See (S6) and (S7).
E. Rose (NAU), 7 May 1987.
July 1999. Earthwork survey at 1:1250.
Enhancing the Ordnance Survey map. Features internal to the motte include an L-shaped scarp and ridge which suggests part of a building (keep?). The ploughing of the bailey interior has seriously degraded the junction of the bailey ditch with the motte ditch in the east. The small semi-circular ditched enclosure within the bailey, abutting the motte ditch and thought to be a barbican is no longer identified.
See (S8).
B. Cushion (NLA), 5 August 1999.
2 August 1995. NLA air photography.
Earthworks of motte and bailey clearly visible from the air. Internal circular feature, possibly barbican also showing.
S. Massey (NLA), 3 August 2001.
(S9) interprets the castle as the Malet's hunting ground - a country retreat on the periphery of their estates - or a castle raised for their tenant Waller of Caen.
D. Gurney (NLA), 14 May 2003.
February 2008.
Section 17 management agreement renewed. See (S10).
D. Robertson (NLA), 26th February 2008.
Sources and further reading
| --- | Scheduling record: Corbishley, M.J.. 1983. AM107. |
| --- | Secondary File: |
| --- | Slide: Slide. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: See file for details of all AP's. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1998. TG2015/ACF - ACG. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1995. TG 2015ACH - ACJ. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TG 2015ACV. |
| --- | Bibliographic reference: Cushion, B. and Davison, A.. 2003. Earthworks of Norfolk IN East Anglian Archaeology 104. vol. 104. p 170 |
| S1 | Graphic material: Squire Manuscript. |
| S2 | Bibliographic reference: 1960. East Anglia. 2. p 233, pl 58 |
| S3 | Bibliographic reference: 1904. Norfolk Archaeology. vol.XV p.289-90. |
| S4 | Bibliographic reference: Morris Manuscript. |
| S5 | Bibliographic reference: 1971. Norwich Mercury. 24 November. |
| S6 | Bibliographic reference: 1987. Eastern Daily Press. 7 May. |
| S7 | Photograph: Wade-Martins, P.. 1987. Ploughing at Horsford Castle, 1987.. |
| S8 | Unpublished document: Cushion, B. (NLA). Earthwork Survey. |
| S9 | Bibliographic reference: Liddiard, R.. 2000. Landscapes of Lordship. pp 35-36, 85-88 |
| S10 | Unpublished document: Norfolk County Council. 2007-2008. Section 17 Management Agreement. |
Related records
| 40139 | Related to: Horsford Castle Park (Monument) |
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