Castlefacts³

Shobdon 2

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are uncertain remains

Name	Shobdon 2
Alternative Names	Easthampton
Historic Country	Herefordshire
Modern Authority	Herefordshire
1974 Authority	Hereford and Worcester
Civil Parish	Shobdon

A possible motte, ditch and counterscarp with a bailey. The mound is quite prominent with a shallow ditch containing a pond at one pond, whilst other embankments indicate what could be the line of a bailey. To the east runs one of the early valley defence lines, similar to the Rowe Ditch some 3km to the south-west. (Shoesmith ref info from Paul Remfry)

Gatehouse Comments

No other references to this site, no significant features visible on aerial photo except a small pond at the given map reference, although there are some possible tree covered features at SO406628. This does not look like an area where there has been particularly intense mechanical agriculture so if there were artificial earthworks here they can not have been substantial. If a manmade feature may represent a farmstead or township of Easthampton, presumably a sub manor of Shobdon which seems to have been a fairly dispersed medieval settlement. However there is no real reason to think that Easthampton Farm has moved from its current site.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

www.herefordshire.gov.uk/environmental-protection/conservation-and-sustainability/archaeology-excavations-and-surveys?q=historic&type=suggestedpage

OS Map Grid Reference	SO408628
Latitude	52.260181427002
Longitude	-2.86877989768982
Eastings	340800
Northings	262800