Castlefacts³

Newcastle; The Crugyn

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Newcastle; The Crugyn
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Shropshire
Modern Authority	Shropshire
1974 Authority	Shropshire
Civil Parish	Newcastle

Listed as an early castle by Hogg and King. Ten foot high (Hogg and King 1963). It was formerly thought to be a tumulus (VCH 1908). More probably a castle motte (Bird A J. 1950. Map annotation). (1973. Ordnance Survey Record Card).

A natural mound, the upper slopes of which have been artificially scarped to form a small motte. Situated in the valley bottom on the east bank of the River Clun. The mound has a base diameter of 42m NW/SE by 35m transversely; the motte is about 20m in diameter. The mound is 3.5m high. No traces of an associated bailey are to be found. Motte ploughed Sept 1984, though still surviving as described by the OS 1973. No trace of motte ditch apparent as a soil mark-no other associated features noted. Field to be put down to pasture again after being cropped. (winter barley) (Watson Michael D. 1984. Visit Notes).

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-91, Low score as one of 43 Motte castles.

A motte (also suggested as a possible round barrow) situated in the flood plain of the River Clun, close to the river. It measures apx 40m in diameter at its base and is about 2.5m high. Ploughing has spread and reduced the height of this mound. There are no visible indications of the surrounding ditch. It lies within an unimproved pasture field and is surmounted by an old oak tree. It is possibly associated with the motte and bailey castle at Clun, also occupying a position next to the river about 5.5km to the south east (Reid 1999). (Shropshire HER)

Gatehouse Comments

The mound is in the valley bottom and it appears to be heavily eroded (possibly the valley floods regularly). Erosion may have removed much material and the original mound certainly would have been somewhat higher than now, but probably not of greater diameter. The mound is surrounded by a 20m band of firm but lush ground which may represent a silted up ditch. Badger sett in mound and erosion ongoing. Suggested as site of Matefelun mentioned 1195.Although it is now a civil parish medieval Newcastle was a small hamlet within the parish and manor of Clun. The place-name is suggestive of a castle but note the prominent local hill called Castle Idris which may explain the place-name. If this was a castle then does it represent the site of a farmstead held by a tenant owing military service to Clun? If so then the tenant is likely to have owed serjeantry service of a fraction of a knight's fee.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

105456

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSA1454&resourceID=1015

OS Map Grid Reference	SO243820
Latitude	52.4313011169434
Longitude	-3.113529920578
Eastings	324390
Northings	282060