Castlefacts³

Great Cornard

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Great Cornard
Alternative Names	Abbas Hall Wood
Historic Country	Suffolk
Modern Authority	Suffolk
1974 Authority	Suffolk
Civil Parish	Great Cornard

Martin records a possible ringwork at Great Cornard, writing "a small embanked ring on the edge of Abbas Hall Wood may have been an attempt to fortify the manor in the time of Stephen."

Circular earthwork in Abbas Hall Wood, adjacent to the wood bank on the west side of the road. Overall diameter is 42.5c, ditch 6m to 6.5m wide (outer edge to crest of bank on inside) and upto about half a metre deep; inner bank is about a half a metre high and about 2m wide. Interior flat and tree covered. High position on a spur (Suffolk HER ref Martin site visit).

Gatehouse Comments

Certainly could be an earlier site of Abbas Hall, which presumably moved a little down hill to be on the spring line. However, the dating of this to the time of Stephen is doubtful, and Gatehouse would not be surprised if this was actually of pre-Conquest date, although possible with post-Conquest strengthening. Whether this ringwork was of sufficient strength to be called a castle is a matter of debate and opinion. Copinger's tenurial history does not given any suggestion for a date but does show this manor, held in chief by the Abbot of Bury, was tenanted by a knightly family by the end of the C12.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSF17861&resourceID=1017

OS Map Grid Reference	TL900404
Latitude	52.0292510986328
Longitude	0.768710017204285
Eastings	590000
Northings	240400