Barrow Hill, Chaddesley Corbett

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameBarrow Hill, Chaddesley Corbett
Alternative Names
Historic CountryWorcestershire
Modern AuthorityWorcestershire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishChaddesley Corbett

Site on eminence known as Barrow Hill (first apparent ref lay subsidy 1327 'atte Berewe'). Allies visited site 1844, describes it as 115yds long 90 yds wide at broadest, in shape like a pear, with narrow part to W. 'Round tump at E end of summit of tumulus and whole hill is very perfect in appearance except at N side which has undergone excavation'. Still of considerable size almost giving impression of a motte. Over 30' high and probably over 100' diameter. No sign of surrounding ditch. Locally believed that sand of which site is composed was derived from elsewhere (Allies)

Research Report 1999 suggests that the feature might be geological (Perkins).

Tom Pagett of Hagley Historical Society carried out research and conducted a site visit in 2006. His initial suggestion is that Barrow might come from Berewe meaning small wood and not be a barrow at all but a geological feature deposited by a glacier. He stresses that there is not enough evidence to draw any conclusions as to the origins of the monument (Pagett). (Worcestershire and Worcester City HER)

Gatehouse Comments

There are a number of mounds in Worcestershire which seem to have been considered artificial but may well be natural glacial mounds. Whatever the nature of this mound it is clear, from its isolated location, absence of surrounding ditch and lack of any possible bailey, this is not a motte despite being labelled as such in the Worcestershire and Worcester City HER.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO908751
Latitude52.3742294311523
Longitude-2.13523006439209
Eastings390890
Northings275140
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perkins, W., 1999, The Barrow Hill Paradox: burial mound, castle motte or natural landscape feature
  • Montgomerie, 1924, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm and Willis-Bund, J.W. (eds), VCH Worcestershire Vol. 4 p. 433
  • Allies, J., 1852, The Ancient British, Roman and Saxon Antiquities and Folklore of Worcestershire (London: J.H. Parker) p. 124-6 (as celtic tumulus) online copy

Journals

  • Pagett, T., 2006, 'Barrow Hill- Drayton: A short report on its possible origins' Hagley Historical and Field Society_
  • Cantril, T.C., 1907-10, Transactions of the Worcestershire Naturalists Club Vol. 4 p. 398-9