Didley Court Farm Motte, St Devereux

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameDidley Court Farm Motte, St Devereux
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishSt Devereux

Earthwork remains of a Motte and the site of a bailey. The motte is roughly round, about 26 yards in diameter at the base and 17 feet in height above the ditch. There were traces of a crescent-shaped bailey on the north and north west, but this has now been destroyed by post medieval building to the north. This destructive episodes may have removed up to half of the motte, as well as any surrounding ditch and a bailey. Archaeological deposits may have survived below this post-medieval development. A ditch and crescent-shaped bailey survived around the site as late as 1931. (PastScape)

Motte & bailey at Didley Court Farm. Motte is roughly round, c26yds diam at base, 17' high above ditch. Ditch survives only on SW, dying out into berm & scarp on SE & E. Traces of crescent shaped bailey on N & NW with a ditch on W & scarp on rest of circuit. To SW of bailey a scarp encloses a platform or court of irregular shape & perhaps of later date (RCHME.) Only motte now remains, to height of 5m above slight trace of a berm on SE side. There is no trace of ditch on SW. On N & NW sides bailey has been destroyed & court to SW is delineated only by a hedge on its NW & SW sides (1971 OS record). (Herefordshire SMR)

Gatehouse Comments

Phillips speculates a motte built in response to resurgence of hostilities during the Anarchy. Gatehouse speculates a defended 'knight's fee' farmstead with a mainly symbolic motte.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO450319
Latitude51.9836387634277
Longitude-2.80122995376587
Eastings345070
Northings231990
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 253
  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) p. 175-6 Download from ADS
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 59
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 17
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 210
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 64
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. 224 No. 2 online transcription

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  • Renn, D.F., 1959, 'Mottes: a classification' Antiquity Vol. 33 p. 106-12 (listed as precursor to Kilpeck)
  • Clark, G.T., 1880, The Builder Vol. 38 p. 250