Castlefacts³

Brent Marsh

Has been described as a Possible Uncertain

There are uncertain remains

Name	Brent Marsh
Alternative Names	Brente-knolle
Historic Country	Somerset
Modern Authority	Somerset
1974 Authority	Somerset
Civil Parish	Brent Knoll

In 1189 Richard Cotele, one of Glastonbury abbey's most prominent tenants, did homage for a castellarium in the manor of Brent Marsh. Elias Cotele, son of Richard, granted it with his mother's consent to Robert, son of Thomas de la Pulle. From Thomas it passed to Reginald de Mere and Reginald gave it in 1270 to Abbot Robert of Petherton. The name Brent Marsh implies a site on the low-lying land east or south of Brent Knoll; no such site has yet been found. (Dunning 1995)

Gatehouse Comments

There is an iron age hillfort on the very prominent Brent Knoll (at the given map reference); did this have medieval use? Is the castellarium mentioned an actual medieval castle (in the sense of a manorial centre), the iron age hill fort (with or without medieval residential occupation - although the hill top can never have been a easy place for a residence - even in the Iron Age - and certainly not for medieval people and their horses), or lands associated with something else? Did the dry lands of Brent Knoll have particular value in the otherwise marshy area? The lower slopes of the hill have a concentration of settlement and possibly a manor house on these lower slopes may have been modestly fortified.Dunning is of the opinion that medieval use of the term castellarium is not associated with unoccupied Iron Age hillforts however Gatehouse does not share that opinion.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

www.swheritage.org.uk/#!historic-environment-record/cere

OS Map Grid Reference	ST341509
Latitude	51.2541618347168
Longitude	-2.94539999961853
Eastings	334120
Northings	150980