Uffington Dragon Hill

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameUffington Dragon Hill
Alternative Names
Historic CountryBerkshire
Modern AuthorityOxfordshire
1974 AuthorityOxfordshire
Civil ParishUffington

David Ford Nash (britannia.com) writes "It has often been suggested that Dragon Hill, below the Uffington White Horse, is the Motte of a Norman Castle. The mound appears to be natural, though it is still possible it was used as a castle. There is no corroborative evidence however. The adjoining hillfort also goes by the name of Uffington Castle." Reported in PastScape as "A large circular flat-topped mound about 10m high with much chalk digging around the base. It is situated below the top of a chalk scarp and is thought to be a natural feature. No earthworks have been identified. Romano British and Iron Age coins and pottery have been found."

Gatehouse Comments

The mound is not a manorial centre and is of no apparent tactical or strategic value, there are several sites in the area where prehistoric earthworks are in tactically defensive positions with strategic control of medieval routeways. Can safely be rejected as a castle site and the only question is how anyone could have thought otherwise.

- 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 ReferenceSU300869
Latitude51.5798492431641
Longitude-1.56745004653931
Eastings430080
Northings186950
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Elliot, Julia (ed), 2005, Heritage Unlocked; Guide to free sites in London and the South East (London: English Heritage) p. 111
  • Page, Wm and Ditchfield, P.H. (eds), 1906, VCH Berkshire Vol. 1 p. 215

Journals

  • Grinsell, L.V., 1936, 'An Analysis and List of Berkshire Barrows' Berkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 40 p. 24 download copy
  • 1870, Transactions of the Newbury District Field Club Vol. 1 p. 182