Wootton Wawen

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameWootton Wawen
Alternative Names
Historic CountryWarwickshire
Modern AuthorityWarwickshire
1974 AuthorityWarwickshire
Civil ParishWootton Wawen

Detailed fieldwork in an area of c one Sq Km to the south of St Peter's Church revealed many well preserved relict features. These included a very small motte and bailey castle, which had been considerably altered and enlarged to form a rectangular manorial enclosure, surrounded on three sides by an extensive pond (now dry). Elsewhere investigation of the complex system of water control needed to feed this and another pond was begun. (PastScape)

An area of relict features, many in a very good state of preservation. Chief among them is what appears to have been a very small motte and bailey castle. This sat at the front of a gently sloping promontory between the River Alne and a tributary, taking advantage of a long steep bluff along the W edge of the Alne's flood plain. Most of the motte has survived, as has the N part of its ditch. The rest of the ditch was infilled in the Medieval period when the bailey was greatly enlarged to form a rectangular enclosure. This was defended by a bank and ditch to the N and a large bank to the E, S and W. An extensive three-armed pond surrounds the manorial complex on three sides. Within the enclosure there appear to be a number of faint platforms. The chronology of these features is not fully clear. (Warwickshire HER–ref. Bassett)

Gatehouse Comments

St Peter's Church was a Saxon minster. There was also a Benedictine priory founded in late C11 in Wootton Wawen. A castle seems a reasonable suggestion in this high status manor held by Robert de Toeni (who's caput was Stafford castle), although the small size might suggest a symbolic mount, showing Toeni's baronial and military status, rather than a fortification. The site has alternatively been suggested as an ice house or post medieval fishpond.

- 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 ReferenceSP153630
Latitude52.2646217346191
Longitude-1.77741003036499
Eastings415300
Northings263000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salzman, L.F. (ed), 1945, VCH Warwickshire Vol. 3 p. 196-205 (tenurial history only) online transcription

Journals

  • 1984, West Midlands Archaeology Vol. 27 p. 72

Other

  • Bassett, S.R., 1983-1991, The Wootton Wawen project: interim report (School of History, University of Birmingham)