Walterstone Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NameWalterstone Motte
Alternative NamesWalterston
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishWalterstone

Motte diam of 48yds at base, 30' high above bottom of ditch. Partly wet ditch. Kidney shaped bailey on E & SE side, mostly bounded by scarp, with remains of rampart on the S. Few stones can be seen on top of motte... (Scheduling Report) Castle of Walter de Lacy, descrip, plans, sketch. (Kay, R., 1952, SMR file) Nr church mound of earth conical form, height c30', circum at base nearly same number of yards, deeply ditched & moated round. Taylor in map placed chapel on tumulus described, but no vestige of it remains there.... estate from Walter de Lacy (Part of Ewyas Lacy) to Verduns. (Duncumb) Some foundations of a shell keep. Other buried fondations on site. Stone buried in moat. Faint indications of outer enclosure. (Stirling Brown, 1988) Members of the archaeology section of the Woolhope Club visited the site on 05/11/89. Note was made of the quantity of loose stone on and around the motte indicating a possible stone structure. On the bailey side there are signs of laid stone in situ in the bank with some mortar, lime, and gravel. Further buried stone is evident in the upper bailey. (Halliwell, 1990). (Herefordshire SMR)

This castle was abandoned in 1137 and stone defences are unlikely. (Shoesmith)

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 ReferenceSO339249
Latitude51.919319152832
Longitude-2.96177005767822
Eastings333950
Northings224970
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 275
  • Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p. 110-164
  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) p. 349-51 Download from ADS
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 66
  • Remfry, Paul M., 1998, The Castles of Ewias Lacy, 1048 to 1403 (SCS Publishing: Worcestershire)
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 103 (slight)
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 21
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 212
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 50
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. xxxiv, 247 No. 3 online transcription
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 190, 246 (plan)
  • Duncumb, John, 1812, Collections towards the history and antiquities of the county of Hereford; Volume 2; Broxash Hundred, Ewyas Lacy Hundred and part of Greytree Hundred p. 270, 301- online copy
  • Coxe, Wm, 1801, An Historical Tour in Monmouthshire Vol. 1 plan facing p. 23

Journals

  • Halliwell, P. (ed), 1990, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 53 p. 16
  • Sterling Brown, R., 1988, 'Preliminary Results of Castle Survey' Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 50 p. 45
  • Thomas, M. and Coplestone-Crow, B., 1982, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 40 p. 6-8 (plan)
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  • Marshall, G., 1938, 'The Norman Occupation of the Lands in the Golden Valley. Ewyas, and Clifford, and their Motte and Bailey Castles' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p. 149 online transcription
  • 1935, 'Rowlestone and Waterstone, Fourth Field Meeting, Thursday August 29th' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p. ci-cii

Other

  • Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk West Midlands Register 2016 (London: Historic England) p. 12 online copy
  • Historic England, 2015, Heritage at Risk West Midlands Register 2015 (London: Historic England) p. 12 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 14 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2013, Heritage at Risk Register 2013 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 11 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2012, Heritage at Risk Register 2012 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 26 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 25 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 24 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 35 online copy