Castlefacts³

Shelford

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Shelford
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Nottinghamshire
Modern Authority	Nottinghamshire
1974 Authority	Nottinghamshire
Civil Parish	Shelford And Newton

Situation: The site comprises a minor earthwork within the parish churchyard.

Preservation: A low, denuded earthwork of uncertain form.

Description: The churchyard contains an artificial earthwork, c. 5m across and of approximately horse­ shoe shape, lying immediately south-east of the church. Whilst potentially a fortification (a ringwork?) forming the caput of the twelfth century Honour of Shelford, the precise nature of the feature remains obscure. (Creighton 1998)

Gatehouse Comments

Slight earthworks in churchyard suggested as possible castle site. A possibility supported by foundation of a priory here in the reign of Stephen. Recorded as remains of a Civil War gun battery in PastScape based on strategic position 'on a rise overlooking a tactically important crossing over the Trent' and documentary evidence for Civil War activity in area. It remains possible that this earthwork was a medieval castle site with or without later reuse in the Civil War. Speight suggests possibly a rebuilding of a residence of the late Saxon lord Toki by the Alselins and compares this site to Earl Barton in Northamptonshire.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

320044

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MNT13536&resourceID=1041

OS Map Grid Reference	SK661423
Latitude	52.9744186401367
Longitude	-1.01690995693207
Eastings	466130
Northings	342340