Wheathampstead

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameWheathampstead
Alternative NamesCastle Meadows; Creswell Farm
Historic CountryHertfordshire
Modern AuthorityHertfordshire
1974 AuthorityHertfordshire
Civil ParishWheathampstead

Vanished possible castle. Renn writes "The castle of John de Leycestre (fl. 1278-90) is said to to be 1 1/2 miles along the Luton Road." PastScape record reads "Castle Meadows at Creswell Farm is the alleged site site of a castle."

The farm is Causewell Farm on maps from 1676 'Castle' is a modern corruption. On the south side of the Lea River, the field on the 1840 Wheathampstead tithe map is named 'Castle Meadow'. This was related by to John de Leycester, 13C rector of Wheathampstead, 'Leycester' being interpreted as 'Lea Castle'. The supposed site was a small gravel knoll rising above the valley floor, forming a fordable river crossing. Trenches across the knoll in 1993 exposed 400 square metres of the knoll and showed it to consist of natural gravel throughout, with no trace of any earthworks or medieval occupation. (Herts HER)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL157147
Latitude51.8189582824707
Longitude-0.322800010442734
Eastings515700
Northings214700
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.

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Books

  • Renn, D.F., 1971, Medieval Castles in Hertfordshire (Chichester: Phillimore) p. 25

Journals

  • Davys, O.W., 1889, 'Notes on the Church of St Helen, and Ecclesiastical History of Wheathampstead' Transactions of the St Albans Architectural and Archaeological Society Vol. 9 p. 16-17

Other

  • Isobel Thompson, 2005, Extensive Urban Survey - Hertfordshire (English Heritage) Download copy
  • Simon West. 1999. Aldwickbury golf course: a prehistoric and Roman landscape (R998). field evaluation
  • Simon West. 1993. Aldwickbury golf course: an evaluation of the archaeological implications (R450). field evaluation