Birch Castle

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameBirch Castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityEssex
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishBirch

Vestiges of earthwork remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle. All that remains is a short length of rampart and ditch on a spur of high ground. Roman pottery has been found on the site. It formerly belonged to the Gernon family. (Derived from PastScape and Unlocking Essex's Past)

It should be recorded that a field adjoining the enclosure is locally known by the suggestive name 'the bailey.' (Gould, 1903, p. 284n3)

Birch Castle, formerly belonging to the Gernon family (Morant, II, 182), stands a few yards S. of the parish church. A short length of rampart and ditch situated on a spur of high ground is all that remains of the earthworks of the Castle. Morant describes the work as a mount surrounded by a ditch. (RCHME 1922)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL943198
Latitude51.8434791564941
Longitude0.820029973983765
Eastings594350
Northings219850
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Cooper, Janet (ed), 2001, VCH Essex Vol. 10 p. 44-6 online transcription
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 23
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 143
  • Powell, W.R., 1963, VCH Essex Vol. 3 p. 50
  • RCHME, 1922, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex Vol. 3 (north-east) p. 9 no. 2 online transcription
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Gould, Chalkley, 1903, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol. 1 p. 284 online copy
  • Morant, P., 1768, The history and antiquities of the county of Essex Vol. 2 p. 182