Bickenhill Castle Hills Farm

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameBickenhill Castle Hills Farm
Alternative NamesBevenchesley
Historic CountryWarwickshire
Modern AuthoritySolihull
1974 AuthorityWest Midlands
Civil ParishBickenhill

Castle Hills Farm, Bickenhill, is an L-shaped C17 house. The gabled wing projecting at the south end of the east front retains much of its original timber-framing, but the remainder is mostly of later red brickwork. A central chimney-stack has two diagonal shafts. Two ponds east and south of the house are remains of a moat (VCH). Near to the farmhouse "Castle Hills", is the site of the castle built by Nigel de Albain, or Roger de Mowbray. Foundations are here and there indicated by a slight elevation of the surrounding surface and there are traces of a moat. Probably reduced temp. Henry II and perhaps became the mansion of one of the Ardens. In an inquisition taken 4 Edward I, one of the parks belonging to Wm. de Arden, about a mile and a quarter distant from Hampton Church 'towards Elmedon', was situated here, but no reference is made to a castle (Hannett). A pond on the south side of the farmhouse, which is 70.0m in length, 8.0m in width, and which is at the present time almost dry, may be the south arm of a homestead moat, but there are no traces of any continuation to the east or west of the house (Field Investigators Comments–F2 ASP 01-JUL-76). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Regarded as 'possible' site by King - meaning pretty doubtful.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSP176821
Latitude52.4368591308594
Longitude-1.74163997173309
Eastings417660
Northings282130
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 486 (possible)
  • Salzman, L.F. (ed),1947, VCH Warwickshire Vol. 4 p. 35 online transcription
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Hannett, J., 1863, The Forest of Arden p. 290 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Dugdale, Wm., 1656, The Antiquities of Warwickshire (Thomas Warren) p. 713-4 (tenurial history) online copy