Castlefacts³

Overbury Farm, Woolhope

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

Name	Overbury Farm, Woolhope
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Herefordshire
Modern Authority	Herefordshire
1974 Authority	Hereford and Worcester
Civil Parish	Woolhope

Possible Motte. Site identified in 1999.

The mound is situated at Overbury Farm in the north of the village. The mound is sub-rectangular, about 20m x 15m surrounded by a ditch 1.5m deep and around 2m wide. The ditch and mound are very clear on the south and lie close to the present day farmhouse. (Herefordshire Through Time)

Gatehouse Comments

Reasonably close to village but does not seem to be associated with manorial centre of the Village. However the Overbury place-name may be a reference to a Saxon thegnal burh presumably a small sub manor within Woolhope parish. It is possible the supposed motte represents a Norman adaptation and mainly symbolic claim to this Saxon manorial site. Given dimensions appear more in line with a homestead moat but it is possible that the Saxon thegnal site underwent many changes over the centuries.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/her-search/monuments-search/search/monument?smr_no=30353

OS Map Grid Reference	SO610363
Latitude	52.0245590209961
Longitude	-2.56949996948242
Eastings	361020
Northings	236390