Caynham Camp

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

There are earthwork remains

NameCaynham Camp
Alternative NamesCaynham Castle; Kainsham; Kensham; Kaynham; Caiholme
Historic CountryShropshire
Modern AuthorityShropshire
1974 AuthorityShropshire
Civil ParishCaynham

Caynham Camp large univallate hillfort survives well and is a fine example of its class. The earthworks are unusual in preserving visible evidence of refurbishment, expansion and subsequent secondary use of the site. The eastern entrance is also an exceptionally good example of an original inturned entrance which has survived with no apparent disturbance. The massive defences will contain important archaeological evidence concerning the method of construction together with evidence of the sequence of occupation. The interior, which has suffered minimal disturbance, will similarly contain evidence of occupation. Environmental material relating to the landscape in which the monument was constructed and the economy of its inhabitants, will survive in the ditch fill and on the old land surface sealed beneath the ramparts. (Scheduling Report)

Cainham castle, of some callyd Caiholme, now downe, stode (3.) miles from Ludelaw. (Leland)

Gatehouse Comments

This is a prehistoric univallate hillfort despite tradition of medieval castle supported by Leland. Has been excavated.

- 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 ReferenceSO545737
Latitude52.3594589233398
Longitude-2.66953992843628
Eastings354500
Northings273700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Jackson, M.J.,1988, Castles of Shropshire (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries) p. 71 (reject)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 435 (reject)
  • Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p. 134
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co) p. 262
  • Wall (after Downham), 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Shropshire Vol. 1 p. 360-1
  • Allcroft, A. Hadrian, 1908, Earthwork of England (London) p. 184-5 online copy
  • Edwards, E., 1858, Notes on the Castellated Structures of Shropshire p. 18

Antiquarian

  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p. 388, 397
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1908, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 2 p. 80 online copy

Journals

  • 1925-6, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 43 p. xii-xiii
  • 1900, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 11 p. x
  • Fortey, C., 1899, 'Notes upon Caynham Camp' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 54 p. 215-9 online copy
  • 1891, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 3 p. 12

Other

  • English Heritage, 1996, Scheduling Papers (Revision, 27/02/1996)
  • Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, 1987, Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 31388 (12/06/1987)
  • Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, 1988, Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 33884