Bletsoe Village Defence

Has been described as a Questionable Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameBletsoe Village Defence
Alternative Names
Historic CountryBedfordshire
Modern AuthorityBedfordshire
1974 AuthorityBedfordshire
Civil ParishBletsoe

possible embanked defences. (King 1983)

In the neighbourhoof, enclosing the village, there are at intervals small ponds which look like the remains of fosses, but it is not possible to trace them with any certainty nor to connect them with the work. They remind one forcibly of Bury Hill, Thurleigh, only a few miles distant. (Wadmore 1920)

Gatehouse Comments

Nothing like this recorded in PastScape or visible on air photos. Beds HER record does not mention any defences. In this area clay pits are frequent. Where these dug in lines following 'seams' (old river courses) of clay? Has Wadmore been rather too fanciful here.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL026583
Latitude52.2136383056641
Longitude-0.503480017185211
Eastings502600
Northings258300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

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Books

  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 259
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 5, 8
  • Wadmore, Beauchamp, 1920, The Earthworks of Bedfordshire (Bedford) p. 153-4

Journals

  • Bond J., 2001, 'Earthen Castles, Outer Enclosures and the Earthworks at Ascott d'Oilly Castle, Oxfordshire' Oxoniensia Vol. 46 p. 67-8 (Appendix: Earthwork castles with attached village enclosures) online copy