Castlefacts³

Ashton Castle

Has been described as a Possible Masonry Castle, and also as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

Name	Ashton Castle
Alternative Names	Lower Ashton Farm; Lower Ashton Camp
Historic Country	Herefordshire
Modern Authority	Herefordshire
1974 Authority	Hereford and Worcester
Civil Parish	Eye, Moreton and Ashton

The manorial earthworks SE of Lower Ashton were threatened by a proposed road diversion. The earthworks consist of an irregularly shaped platform with two mounds upon it. The platform rises at most 10 ft about the surrounding ground. The larger mound is c 35 yds square and has an average height of 3 3/4 ft. The smaller mound is circular, 15 yds in diameter and 3 1/2 - 4 ft high. It is the base of a small round tower (3). To the N of the platform are traces of a small ditch and bank terminating at the W end at a circular sinking. Following the boundary on the E and N sides of the adjoining fields are remains of scarping and a length of moat or pond now dry. Condition poor. (PastScape)

Manorial earthworks irregularly shaped platform with 2 mounds upon it. Rises at most 3.04m above surrounding ground. Mound 32m square and 1.2m high, traces of small ditch and bank. Small circular mound to S is base of small round tower. Site was seat of Cornwell family (monuments in nearby church) To N of platform are traces of a small ditch and bank terminating at W end in circular sinking. AP of site 'Enclosure' bounded on E by r & f. Shows earthworks to N of platform (as described) these are bounded on W by r & f that extends to NW corner of enclosure. There also appears to be foundations of large rectangular building to E of earthworks. Only the 'enclosure' is scheduled and not additional earthworks. Enclosure Castle. Inside a large ditched bailey was excav by Woolhope the stump of a large round tower poss the keep connected by a length of wall to a roughly rect mound full of stone, poss a hall block, there are other signs of foundations on site. This large castle could have been at least partly concentric. (Herefordshire SMR)

Gatehouse Comments

Might be considered as large in relation to the many small motte of the welsh marches but actually a modest size for a fortified manor house and a relatively small masonry castle. There nothing to really suggest this as a concentric castle in a meaningful sense.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

110879

County Historic Environment Record

htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/her-search/monuments-search/search/monument?smr_no=346

OS Map Grid Reference	SO517642
Latitude	52.2745094299316
Longitude	-2.70884990692139
Eastings	351700
Northings	264200