Cannock Castle Ring
Has been described as a Possible Palace (Royal), and also as a Possible Fortified Manor House
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Cannock Castle Ring |
| Alternative Names | Beaudesert |
| Historic Country | Staffordshire |
| Modern Authority | Staffordshire |
| 1974 Authority | Staffordshire |
| Civil Parish | Cannock Wood |
'Foundations of building' are shown on the plan of Castle Ring Camp (VCH, 1908). They can be associated with those mentioned by Cockin which have been variously described as the remains of a hunting lodge or the site of the Castle of Beaudesert. Molyneux refers to remains of a medieval structure which he excavated within Castle Ring. On a rectangular platform made in the gentle eastern slope of this part of the plateau-fort (I.A.) are the stone footings 1.5 m. thick, of a substantial building. Its ground-plan is that of a probable 12/13th century hall, orientated north to south, with a screen-passage near the south end. The foundations of the Medieval lodge, centred at SK 0435 1290, within Castle Ring Hillfort were surveyed at 1:200 by RCHME in 1988. The stone foundations measure 20.6m by 11.5m externally. The outer edge of the building is defined by a scarp that represents the base of an excavation trench and in places by a chamfered stone plinth. The building comprises two (or possibly three) cells separated by a narrow passage way. The southernmost cell measuring 3.1m north-south and 8.2m transversely is the smaller of the two, and is clearly defined by a combination of insitu stones and low scarps. The position of a former doorway in the north wall of the cell is discernible, and at the east end of the passage way is a carefully worked door jam. The northernmost cell is considerably larger, measuring 11m north-south and 8.2m transversely. It is also defined by a small scarp and, in places, by insitu stones. Along the central axis of the room are three sub-rectangular depressions, the middle one of which contains a chamfered sandstone pillar base. There is considerable disturbance around the exterior of the building due largely to previous excavation of the foundations; however it is possible that the disturbance is partly indicative of further building remains
A resistivity survey of the area carried out in 1987 failed to provide any further detail on the building. (PastScape)
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 Reference | SK044128 |
| Latitude | 52.7138404846191 |
| Longitude | -1.93703997135162 |
| Eastings | 404430 |
| Northings | 312820 |
