Fakenham Magna

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

NameFakenham Magna
Alternative NamesBurnthall Platation
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishFakenham Magna

Circular earthwork comprising a large bank with an outer ditch recorded in Burnthall Plantation. Possibly a medieval ringwork and scheduled as such. The monument comprises a pennanular enclosure with an overall diameter of 110m. The ditch is 13m wide and 2m deep with an inner bank up to 1.4m high and 9m wide. A section of the bank 30m long has been flattened on the western side. There is a counterscrap bank 0.4m high and 1.4m wide. On the north west side a causway 5m wide crosses the ditch marking the entrance. (PastScape)

Situated on a low spur projecting into the floodplain on the east bank of the river. Flood plain location of such a massive earthwork enclosure is remarkable and recalls that of some henges. Domesday Survey records the manor as belonging to Peter de Valognes who held lands in six eastern counties. Burnthall may have been the head of his estate in Suffolk. (Suffolk HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Does seem a somewhat unusual location for a manorial centre, but the earthwork seem too substantial to be anything other than a ringwork castle. Was an existing site (?henge) enlarged and modified by the, relatively insignificant, de Valognes family to become their caput. In Suffolk, were there were many free tenants finding manpower to build a castle may have been a problem and a modification of an existing ringditch into a ringwork may have been all that could be afforded or managed with the available tied serfs.

- Philip Davis

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 ReferenceTL912760
Latitude52.3494186401367
Longitude0.80579000711441
Eastings591200
Northings276070
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Martin, Edward, 1999 (3edn), 'Medieval Castles' in Dymond, David and Martin, Edward (eds) An Historical Atlas of Suffolk (Lavenham) p. 58-9
  • Clarke, W.G. (2edn revised by R.R. Clarke), 1937, In Breckland Wilds p. 164
  • Fox, Cyril, 1923, The archaeology of the Cambridge region p. 137, 141
  • Wall, 1911, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Suffolk Vol. 1 p. 590 online copy
  • Rye, Walter (ed), 1901, VCH Norfolk Vol. 1 p. 265 online copy

Journals

  • Clarke, R.R., 1939, 'The Iron Age in Norfolk and Suffolk' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 96 p. 107 online copy
  • 1896, Cambridge Antiquarian Society's Communication Vol. 9 p. 93