Bredwardine Old Court

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Other/Unknown), and also as a Rejected Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameBredwardine Old Court
Alternative NamesOld Court Mound
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishBredwardine

The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the medieval moated site known as Old Court Mound and the adjacent pond, located on a hillside overlooking the River Wye 65m north of Old Court House. A minor stream flows by the north side of the site and thence to the Wye. The Church of St Andrew is situated approximately 400m to the south with, directly south of it, a motte and bailey which is the subject of a separate scheduling. The square moat island appears to be undisturbed and measures 30m by 30m. It is raised some 1m to 2m above the land to the south and east, and approximately 0.5m higher than the land to the north where there is a drop of 4m to 5m to the adjacent stream and pond. There are mounds at the corners of the island which measure up to 0.5m high. Building stone is clearly visible on the island and the remains of an east to west stone wall were recorded in 1985. The moat, which measures up to 10m wide by up to 3m deep, is dry although it does fill when the Wye is in severe flood. The northern arm is formed by the utilisation of the adjacent stream and pond and measures up to 5m deep. It would appear that the pond and moat were filled by damming downstream of the moat. No trace of a dam is visible. Situated immediately north of the island is a shallow pond, approximately 200m long by 25m wide, with its eastern end in line with the eastern arm of the moat. This pond has been formed by enlarging the natural stream bed and is included in the scheduling. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

This site has been considered by some to be a castle but is rejected as such by Hogg and King. Listed as a moated site by Salter and described as such by Shoesmith.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO335448
Latitude52.0981712341309
Longitude-2.97145009040833
Eastings333550
Northings244870
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 71
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 16
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 214 (reject)
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 22
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. 26 no. 4 online transcription
  • Robinson, C.J., 1869, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (London: Longman) p. 24 online copy

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1970, 'Castles in Wales and the Marches (Additions and corrections to lists published in 1963 and 1967)' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 119 p. 119-124
  • Cohen, I., 1958, 'Archaeology, Report of Sectional Editor' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 36 p. 127-8