Tich Barrow

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameTich Barrow
Alternative NamesTichbarrow; Tites-Burchdon
Historic CountryCornwall
Modern AuthorityCornwall
1974 AuthorityCornwall
Civil ParishDavidstow

PastScape record of an alleged site of a motte and bailey.

The features depicted on OS 25" (1905) at SX 1460 8809 represent the outline of an old and now grass covered surface quarry and associated spoil heaps. A major widening of the A39 road at this point has now resulted in a considerable levelling of the slopes. It would seem most probable that 'Tich Barrow' (SX 18 NW 4) was mistakenly identified as a 'motte' due to its large and dominant appearance and that the quarry features on its W side were regarded as the remains of a bailey (Field Investigators Comments-F1 JWS 01-JUL-76). During construction of the new road in 1972 part of the quarry was examined. North Devon ware similar to that from the adjacent smithy site (see SX 18 NW 37) was found, indicating working from about 1680 to 1710 and possibly later (Trudgian). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

PastScape does not give details of who considered this to be a motte and bailey. The online Cornwall & Scilly HER record makes no such comment. The location is unlikely for a castle site, on a parish boundary and isolated from settlement, but settlement patterns and castle locations in Cornwall can be unusual and there was an early modern smithy nearby. However, the field investigation in 1972 seems to be enough to reject this presumptive identification.

- 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 ReferenceSX146880
Latitude50.6630592346191
Longitude-4.62371015548706
Eastings214600
Northings88090
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Journals

  • Trudgian, P., 1976, 'Excavation of a Barrow at Tichbarrow Beacon, Lesnewth, 1864' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 15 p. 39 online copy