Great Howle Camp, Walford on Wye

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameGreat Howle Camp, Walford on Wye
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishWalford

Oval enclosure. Indications of ploughed out ditch and strength of bank where best preserved suggest poss remains of a ring motte. Howle belonged in C15 to Walwyns of Hellens. Members of the archaeology section of the Woolhope Club visited the site on 18/11/79. The rampart or bank is continuous around its circuit. What appears to be a possible opening in the centre of each of the two shorter sides is actually only a reduction in the height of the bank. Ploughing has reduced any traces of an encircling ditch. (Derived from Herefordshire SMR)

The earthwork remains of the probable Medieval ringwork enclosure described by the previous authorities were seen centred at SO 6114 2021 and mapped at 1:10,000 scale from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Gloucestershire NMP project. The site appears as a sub-rectangular bank defined enclosure measuring approximately 38m x 50m. No trace of any further internal or external features could be detected from the aerial photographs. (PastScape ref. Vertical aerial photograph reference number NMR OS/667 0425-6 18-MAR-1966)

Gatehouse Comments

In parts of the country other than the welsh marches would this monument be more likely described as an Iron Age farmstead enclosure? Near to, but not adjacent to, a modern farmstead and relationship with medieval landscape seems slight.

- 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 ReferenceSO611202
Latitude51.8791389465332
Longitude-2.56573009490967
Eastings361140
Northings220210
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 273
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 34
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 20
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 213 (possible)
  • RCHME, 1932, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 2: east p. xxvi (plan), 200 no. 13 online transcription

Journals

  • Attfield, C.E. (ed), 1980, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 37 p. 6
  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127