English Bicknor Village Defences

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameEnglish Bicknor Village Defences
Alternative Names
Historic CountryGloucestershire
Modern AuthorityGloucestershire
1974 AuthorityGloucestershire
Civil ParishEnglish Bicknor

In a list of 'New post-Conquest medieval village defences of known urban significance' is English Bicknor as 'Earthen bank and/or ditch'; Short length of circuit preserved; No documentary record of defences known; No archaeological excavation on defences known. (Bond 1987)

English Bicknor: motte and bailey with outer outer enclosure on north side including the church, further partial ditched enclosure beyond that containing rectory (Macean; Renn, p. 184, King, p. 181). (Bond 2001)

Gatehouse Comments

This 'village' enclosure generally seems to be considered as an outer bailey of the castle. The church and church yard are within the enclosure but is is probably that most, if not all, of the peasant residences of the village were outside the enclosure. The extension of the enclosure, suggested to include the rectory by Bond, is according to the Scheduling Report, 'the remains of a water overspill system from the outer moat'.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO581158
Latitude51.8395881652832
Longitude-2.60897994041443
Eastings358100
Northings215800
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

  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 266
  • Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report 61) p. 92-116 online copy

Journals

  • Bond J., 2001, 'Earthen Castles, Outer Enclosures and the Earthworks at Ascott d'Oilly Castle, Oxfordshire' Oxoniensia Vol. 46 p. 67-8 (Appendix: Earthwork castles with attached village enclosures) online copy
  • Maclean, Sir John, 1879-80, 'Earthworks in the parish of Bicknor' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 4 p. 303-5 (plan) online copy

Other

  • Stewart, J.A., 1995, English Bicknor Conservation Area character appraisal (Forest of Dean District Council) online copy