Skip over navigation

View a printer friendly version of this page

Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

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

Location

Grid Reference:	TF 8182 1505
Map Sheet:	TF81NW
Parish:	CASTLE ACRE, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

The Castle was founded and built by William de Warenne who was granted the land shortly after the Norman Conquest. The Norman country house was converted into a keep c. AD 1140 and later in the 12th century became a shell keep. The remains of a 12th century gatehouse survives to the west with evidence of the draw bar for securing the gates and the slot for the portcullis. The late 11th century and 12th century remains of the castle are surrounded by very impressive earthworks including a motte with its own ditch at the northern end, rectangular bailey surrounded by a bank and ditch and the remains of a barbican enclosure to the east. The bailey is surrounded by high earthen banks and the imprint of the hall is visible in the centre.
See (S1) for further details.
S. Howard (NLA), 15 June 2010.

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. Stray Find.
Found inside castle bailey:
1 prehistoric fragmentary chipped flint axehead. Donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1959.310). Information from (S12).
Although originally recorded as Neolithic this object was subsequently examined by R. Jacobi and re-identified as a Mesolithic tranchet adze. Information from (S13).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 August 2014.

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 (S2) and (S3).

1985 to 1986.
Excavations outside east bailey by NAU.

1995.
Medieval sherd found.

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

January 2000. Earthwork Survey.
Earthwork survey at 1:1000.
See report (S4) for further details and plan. Site included in (S9) and survey also noted in (S14).
B. Cushion (NLA), 8 February 2000.

2000.
Additional earthwork features noted.

For full details, photos and press cuttings see report in file.
See also (S9).
E. Rose (NLA), 9 February 2000.

September 2001. Watching brief on route of BT cable.
Two 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.

(S5) 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.

June 2007. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of five post-pits for information boards.
No archaeologically-significant deposits observed and no finds recovered.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2021.

June 2008. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with installation of replacement information boards. The six post pit excavated revealed no archaeologically significant features or deposits and no finds were recovered.
See report (S16) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 June 2017.

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 report (S6) for more details. See also (S7). The results of this work are summarised in (S8).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.53).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 May 2019.

June 2009.
Five year Section 17 management agreement signed for town defences at Dyke Hills.
See (S10).
D. Robertson (HES), 25 September 2012.

March 2015.
Two three year Section 17 agreements signed. One covers repairs to medieval town wall; the other vegetation management on town defences at Dyke Hills.
See (S15).
D. Robertson (HES), 18 May 2015.

July 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of small proposed development area north of Cuckstool Lane, adjacent to south-west corner of bailey (partly with Scheduled area).
Although one of the trenches potentially coincided with the bailey ditch the deep deposits encountered were felt to be more characteristic of a chalk pit or quarry. A fragment of post-medieval brick was also recovered from the primary fill of this feature. The only other remains encountered were a post-medieval pit and a flint cobble wall foundation that was probably of a similar age.
See report (S17) and NHER 65148 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 20 July 2021.

Monument Types

INHUMATION (Unknown date)
FINDSPOT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
FINDSPOT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
HALL HOUSE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
HEARTH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
PIT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POST HOLE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HEARTH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
LIME KILN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
MOTTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POST HOLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PRIORY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
TOWN DEFENCES (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
GROCERS SHOP (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

NAIL (Unknown date)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
TRANCHET AXEHEAD (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
POT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
POT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
COIN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
SPOON (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BOOK FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CARVING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
GAMING BOARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
GEMSTONE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
KILN WASTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
QUERN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
TUMBREL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WHETSTONE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BRICK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
CEREMONIAL OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
HUMAN REMAINS (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

Scheduled Monument
Listed Building
Section 17 Agreements
Section 17 Agreements

Sources and further reading

---	Monograph: Coad, J. G. 1977. Excavation at Castle Acre, Norfolk, 1972-1976. An interim report. Chateau Gaillard: Etudes de Castellologie medievale. Volume VIII. pp. 79-86.
---	Aerial Photograph: see file.
---	Serial: 1974. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1974. No 21. p 3.
---	Serial: 1975. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1975. No 22. p 5.
---	Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF204.
---	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.
---	Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 81 NW 7 [7].
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Article in Serial: Cherry, J.. 1985. Castles of the Conqueror.. British Museum Society Bulletin. No 49.
---	Newspaper Article: 1982. Eastern Daily Press. 23 March.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1985-1986. [Articles and letters to the editor on the fencing placed at Castle Acre Castle by English Heritage].
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. Hero Harry gets mum out of a hole. 25 June.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2008. A reminder of our rich heritage. 20 August.
---	Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 248-251.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. The second Norman invasion. 28 July.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Explore west to find our treasure. 1 November.
---	Serial: 1959. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1959. No. 6. p 3.
---	Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Castle Acre [3].
---	Article in Serial: Sutermeister, H. 1972. Castle Acre. Norfolk Research Committee Newsletter and Bulletin. Series 2 No 9 p 15.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.. 1991. NHER TF 8115/AEN/Z3 (EDWARDS), 10-DEC-1991.
---	Photograph: CBY 23, 25. CBH 12, CBY 19-21. JM 3-6, CRL, CRM, FHW 32-36.
---	Unpublished Report: Cushion, B. 2000. Castle Acre Castle SMR 3449.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1977. Tudor skull unearthed on castle dig. 11 August.
---	Newspaper Article: Norfolk monkey business.
---	Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---	Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Scheduling Notification. Notification. DNF204.
---	Designation: English Heritage. 1994? -2011?. English Heritage Digital Designation Record. Record. DNF204.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval iron door hinge. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval copper alloy binding strip. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval copper alloy binding strip. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval decorated bone comb fragment. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval bone needle. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval bird-bone pipe. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval chalk incised 'Merrels' or 'Nine Men's Morris' board. Paper. 2:1.
---	Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a medieval perforated chalk block (?weight). Paper. 2:1.
<S1>	Unpublished Document: Heywood, S. Castle Acre Castle, Bailey Street, Castle Acre, King's Lynn, Norfolk.
<S2>	Article in Serial: 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. The Archaeological Journal. Vol 139 pp 138-301.
<S3>	Article in Serial: 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.. The Archaeological Journal. Vol 144 pp 256-307. vol 144, pp 256-308.
<S5>	Monograph: Liddiard, R.. 2000. Landscapes of lordship: Norman castles and the countryside in medieval Norfolk, 1066-1200.. pp 28-31, 44-45.
<S6>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Hobbs, B. 2008. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Castle Acre Castle, Castle Acre, Norfolk. NAU Archaeology. 2007.
<S7>	Slide: Various. Slide. 52-69.
<S8>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Hoggett, R. 2009. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk in 2008. Norfolk Archaeology. XLV Part IV pp 570-578. p 572.
<S9>	Monograph: Cushion, B. and Davison, A. 2003. Earthworks of Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 104. p 165.
<S10>	Unpublished Document: Norfolk County Council. 2009-2010. Norfolk Monuments Management Project Section 17 agreement.
<S11>	Illustration: Unknown. Sketch plan of the Castle Acre site.. Film.
<S12>	Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Neolithic. Castle Acre.
<S13>	Archive: R. Jacobi. -. Jacobi Archive. 10178.
<S14>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2001. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 2000. Norfolk Archaeology. XLIII Pt IV pp 707-728. p 710.
<S15>	Unpublished Document: Norfolk County Council. 2014-15. Norfolk Monuments Management Project Section 17 agreement.
<S16>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Leigh, D. J. 2008. An archaeological watching brief during the installation of replacement information boards at Castle Acre Castle, Castle Acre, Norfolk, June 2008. Northamptonshire Archaeology. 08/184.
<S17>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Trimble, G. 2019. Land Adjacent Lime Kiln Cottage, Cuckstool Lane, Castle Acre, Norfolk. Informative Trial Trenching as Part of a Programme of Archaeological Mitigatory Work. Witham Archaeology. 316.

Related records

43123

Related to: Castle Acre planned town (Monument)