West Woodhay Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameWest Woodhay Motte
Alternative NamesWoodhay Oseville
Historic CountryBerkshire
Modern AuthorityWest Berkshire
1974 AuthorityBerkshire
Civil ParishWest Woodhay

A small Norman motte 200 yards west of West Woodhay church was excavated by E Jervoise in 1935-6. Pottery found indicates an early C12-C14 occupation. It is too small to have been a castle motte, the summit diameter being less than 30ft and the height above the ditch only 8ft. It may have been a "moated hunting lodge". There is no indication of a building on the mound. It is 2.1m high and surrounded by a ditch 0.9m deep crossed by a causeway on the N.W. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

The mound may also be a symbolic marker of the knightly status of the tenant.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSU388630
Latitude51.3652191162109
Longitude-1.44344997406006
Eastings438880
Northings163040
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.

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 21
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 12
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 344

Journals

  • 1954, Transactions of the Newbury District Field Club Vol. 10 p. 65-7
  • 1947, Berkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 50 p. 73
  • Jervoise, 1937, Transactions of the Newbury District Field Club Vol. 4 p. 261-73