Castlefacts³

Wigmore Rolls

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (MotteRingwork)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

Name	Wigmore Rolls
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Herefordshire
Modern Authority	Herefordshire
1974 Authority	Hereford and Worcester
Civil Parish	Wigmore

SO38957035. Small motte or ringwork. The western side at the top of a very steep slope. Roughly circular with east west diameter of 16m, the north south diameter is 18.5m. Ditch surrounds, deepest on western side at 1.7m deep and 2m wide, on eastern side ditch was 1.2m deep and 2.7m wide. On north side ditch was 1.3m deep and 3.3m wide. Mound slightly convex on top indicating a wall or bank around its outer edge similar to the motte at Upper Lye (SMR 1701) and SMR 1666. A slight thickening on the outer enclosure on the western edge may indicate a building. A slight dip on the SE side may be an entrance. The ringwork would seem to be too small to be an effective defensive structure. (Herefordshire SMR 21897)

SO38967025. Reported by Margaret Haigh, Dr Stanford says it is some sort of enclosure with single entrance and some sort of outwork. Forester's house, charcoal burners or even castle. Tempting to think of a poss connection with the recently identified "Tumbelawe" (Tumberland Field, SO 377 701) lost DB manor by J Tonkin. (HAN 1992) Small motte or ringwork. The western side at the top of a very steep slope. Roughly circular with E-W diameter of 16m, the N-S diameter is 18.5m. Ditch surrounds, deepest on western side at 1.7m deep and 2m wide, on eastern side ditch was 1.2m deep and 2.7m wide. On north side ditch was 1.3m deep and 3.3m wide. Mound slightly convex on top indicating a wall or bank around its outer edge similar to the motte at Upper Lye (SMR 1701) and the mound NNE of Lingen church (SMR 1666). A slight thickening on the outer enclosure on the western edge may indicate a building. A slight dip on the SE side may be an entrance. The ringwork would seem to be too small to be an effective defensive structure. (Feryok 2000) A low mound approximately 20m in diameter surrounded by a bank and ditch. It is located on a small spur overlooking the village of Adforton, and is in a good state of preservation

It is likely that this feature would have been used as either a look-out post or beacon position during the medieval period. This would have necessitated a significant area to its south being kept free of trees and undergrowth. (Herefordshire SMR 32589)

Gatehouse Comments

Two HER records at slightly different map references but clearly the same site. The close presence of Wigmore castle may have had effects on the interpretation of this feature. A military interpretation might suggest this would be an effective watchtower for the northern and western blind sides of Wigmore castle. However, it may be an earlier feature, a feature associated with medieval hunting or, the more prosaic, charcoal burners site.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/her-search/monuments-search/search/monument?smr_no=21897

OS Map Grid Reference	SO389703
Latitude	52.3278388977051
Longitude	-2.8972499370575
Eastings	338950
Northings	270350