Quidenham Vikings Mound
Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)
There are earthwork remains
Name | Quidenham Vikings Mound |
Alternative Names | The Bubberies |
Historic Country | Norfolk |
Modern Authority | Norfolk |
1974 Authority | Norfolk |
Civil Parish | Quidenham |
This site refers to a mound on the west of Eccles Road on the north bank of the River Wittle. The name 'Viking's Mound' is a recent one and is part of the many exciting explanations offered for this site. Over time it has been incorrectly identified as a Bronze Age round barrow, the burial site of Queen Boudicca of the Iceni tribe, a battlefield site and a Viking monument. The most plausible interpretation of the mound is as the mound of a small Norman motte and bailey castle built by the D'Albinis in C12 to guard the ford. (Norfolk HER)
An imposing mound with surrounding ditch situated on a sloping spur, overlooking a river crossing, and now covered with undergrowth and trees, including an oak in excess of 300 years old. The mound has a maximum overall diameter of 20.0m and a height, above the ditch bottom, of 3.3m; the flat top, at its widest point is 13.0m in diameter, and shows no evidence of a former structure. The surrounding ditch is of impressive proportions, having a base width of up to 8.0m and a depth to the north west of 1.3m; owing to the natural slope this is reduced in the southeast quadrant to 0.4m; the ditch is broken by a causeway to the north-east 3.0m wide. The topographical situation, method of construction, and general appearance suggest this could be a castle mound. No reference to it could be found in the County Library, and it is not shown on early maps in the County Record Office. The name 'Viking Mound' is still in local use. The County Archaeology Unit say that this is the traditional site of Boadicea's burial. They suggest it might be a barrow later used as a mill mound, but there is no evidence to support this. (PastScape ref. Field Investigators Comments–F1 FDC 31-MAY-77)
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 Reference | TM026878 |
Latitude | 52.4507789611816 |
Longitude | 0.981180012226105 |
Eastings | 602670 |
Northings | 287810 |