Birtley Earthworks, Lingen

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are earthwork remains

NameBirtley Earthworks, Lingen
Alternative NamesNewton
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishLingen

Members of the archaeology section of the Woolhope Club visited the site on 14/04/91. The site is described as being a low mound, scarped on three sides, eroded on the northern side with pools on the west and south sides. There are further humps and bumps in the area and an old mill near by. The site would need further investigating to confirm it as a castle. (Herefordshire SMR)

A low mound on the north side of the minor road to Knighton, in the garden of a stone-built house, may be a former castle. It is scarped on three sides and has pools on the west and south. A curved bank to the south of the road with a former long pool could represent the position of the bailey. The defences could all have been wet. It is perhaps more likely to be a defensive house site. (Shoesmith)

Gatehouse Comments

Just within Lingen CP although located in Walford, Letton and Newton CP by Shoesmith and Herefordshire SMR. It should be noted that 200m to the west is a 'Brick Kiln House' which suggests there were clay pits in this area which may also account for these earthworks, although mill works and leets seem to be the most likely explanation for these earthworks.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO368694
Latitude52.319221496582
Longitude-2.92830991744995
Eastings336800
Northings269400
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 275
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 13

Journals

  • 1992, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 58 p. 35
  • Halliwell, P. (ed), 1992, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 57 p. 22-3 (plan)
  • Watkins, A., 1933, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 38 p. 342