Wigmore Green Hill

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Possible Siege Work

There are earthwork remains

NameWigmore Green Hill
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishWigmore

The site of an early motte and bailey castle at Wigmore first identified by J Tonkin and described by P R Halliwell in 1994. The site is located at Green Hill, SE of rampart enclosing the outer bailey of Wigmore Castle. It is located on a narrow ridge, and consists of a motte and two baileys, although the shape of the earthworks is inconclusive. The eastern bailey is obscured by modern housing . Field visit in 1994 showed earthworks survive, althogh not easily interpretable. The motte is eastern of two mounds, a circular earthwork about 5m high and 10m diameter at top. Bailey is western of the two mounds, a narrow oblong earthwork seperated by a broad ditch from the motte. Earliest identification of earthwork "to rear of church" as a motte by R Stirling-Brown. Considered to possibly be a temporary castle built to protect workers building the castle. . A survey by English Heritage in 2000 concluded that this is not a siege castle. It does not have the form or shape of siege castles observed elsewhere in the country. (Herefordshire SMR)

Gatehouse Comments

The location, adjacent to the church, is typical of many early castles and this may well represent the first phase of Wigmore Castle before it was rebuilt on a more visually prominent site further up the Wigmore Rolls hills and early history of Wigmore castle may well apply to this site. Was there any pre-Conquest occupation of this site?

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO410691
Latitude52.3170585632324
Longitude-2.86653995513916
Eastings341080
Northings269100
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

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 301
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 68
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 24
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 5

Journals

  • Halliwell, P R., 1994, 'Possible first castle site at Wigmore' Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 61 p. 29-30 (plan)
  • Redhead, N,. 1990, 'Wigmore Castle: a resistivity survey of the outer bailey' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 46.3 p. 423-31
  • Sterling Brown, R., 1988, 'Wigmore Castle' Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 48 p. 30-32
  • Noble, F., 1964, 'Medieval boroughs of west Herefordshire' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 38.1 p. 62-70

Other

  • Dalwood, H. and Bryant, V. (eds), 2005, The Central Marches Historic Towns Survey 1992-6 Download online copy