Castlefacts³

Wednesbury

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are no visible remains

Name	Wednesbury
Alternative Names	Wedgebury; Wodensborough, Weadesbury; Weddsborrow; Ethelfleda Terrace
Historic Country	Staffordshire
Modern Authority	Sandwell
1974 Authority	West Midlands
Civil Parish	Tipton

The possible site of an Iron Age Hillfort is suggested by place-name evidence, although no surface trace remains. The site is traditionally associated with Ethelfleda, a member of the Anglo Saxon royal house, and sister of Edward the Elder. Ethelfleda is said to have established a castle on the site.

There are several antiquarian accounts of earthworks on the site around Church Hill. Two trial trenches were dug across one of the supposed ramparts on the west side of Ethelfleda Terrace. These showed that the bank here is of modern origin and that modern buildings are likely to have destroyed any earlier features. There is no evidence to attribute these earthworks to Ethelfleda and they may represent an Iron Age Hillfort. The place name evidence comes from the name "Wednesbury" which suggests there was an early earthwork. Wednesbury means the burh or fortified place of Woden. (PastScape)

Ethelfleda, who for some years governed the kingdom of Mercia, built or fortified a strong castle here, upon the summit of the hill where the parish church now stands. (White 1851 - almost certainly directly taken from Shaw 1801)

Gatehouse Comments

King writes nothing known of reported castle mentioned by Harvey. However, Harvey is almost certainly working from either White (1851) or Shaw (1801). The history given in Shaw needs to be read with care and circumspection and the nature of any Saxon fortification is an open question. However the location given is clear and this may well have been the site of an existing, Iron Age, earthwork. The location, beside a church, may suggests some continued use, as a manorial centre, after Ethelfleda time and even into the post-Conquest period but there is nothing to suggest Norman strengthening of the Iron Age earthworks so not a castle in the rather limited way King and most scholars define 'the castle'.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

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

118791

County Historic Environment Record

www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/planning/historic-buildings-and-conservation/archaeology/sites-and-monuments-record/

OS Map Grid Reference	SO988953
Latitude	52.555908203125
Longitude	-2.02045011520386
Eastings	398800
Northings	295300