Navestock Side, Bentley

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameNavestock Side, Bentley
Alternative Names
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityEssex
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishBrentwood

Earthworks on Navestock Common seen by Stukeley at least four times between 1725 and 1761 consisting of 'mounds of earth and a ditch' on the 'Chafford and Ongar' boundaries. The site of the earthworks thought to be a motte and bailey was identified by the Rev. S. C. Hore and Professor Meldola in 1894. A keyhole shaped ditch mark at TQ 55989676 visible on air photographs. The field containing the "Keyhole" is under the plough and though slightly undulating it doubtfully represents an earthwork although it almost fulfils Hore's topographical description of Stukeley's work. Possibly the site of a Medieval motte and bailey. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

600m from St Pauls church. Stukely's plan, reproduced in Hore and Meldola, is suggestive of a motte and 2 baileys.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ559967
Latitude51.6487617492676
Longitude0.254260003566742
Eastings555970
Northings196760
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.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Gould, Chalkley, 1903, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol. 1 p. 295-6, 313 online copy

Antiquarian

  • 1883, The family memoirs of the Rev. William Stukeley, M.D., and the antiquarian and other correspondence of William Stukeley, Roger & Samuel Gale, etc (Surtees Society 76) Vol. 2 p. 157 online copy

Journals

  • Gould, I.C., 1903, 'Stukeley's "Temple" at Navestock' Essex Archaeological Society Transactions Vol. 8 p. 327-8 online copy
  • Hore, Rev S.C. and Prof Meldola, 1894, Essex Naturalist Vol. 8 p. 213-4, 221-2 online copy