Danesbury, Hertford

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameDanesbury, Hertford
Alternative NamesWarren Field; Port Hill
Historic CountryHertfordshire
Modern AuthorityHertfordshire
1974 AuthorityHertfordshire
Civil ParishHertford

The Danes "are thought to have had a camp upon Port Hill, of which, however, it is said that no traces are now to be seen." (Clark)

No real evidence for the existence of a Danish camp has been met with here but it is perhaps worth noting that Danesbury School cricket ground (centred TL 3258 1346) which occupies a commanding position on the summit of the hill is of rather unusual shape and form. It comprises a raised platform of ovoid shape some 100.0m. N-S by 70.0m. E-W, surrounded by a low rampart and what is possibly the vestigial remains of a ditch, now partly occupied by the drive to the school and partly by Warren Park Road. However, nothing is shown on the 1838 Tithe Map where it falls in a large featureless parcel of some 50 acres named Warren Field. Nevertheless, such an omission cannot be considered conclusive (F1 CFW 12-AUG-60). (PastScape)

There is no real evidence of a 'Danish camp', but the cricket ground occupies the summit of a hill and has an unusual shape, an ovoid raised platform surrounded by a low rampart and possible ditch. Lies in 'Warren field'. The place name is usually antiquarian speculation, without basis. (Hertfordshire HER)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL325134
Latitude51.8021392822266
Longitude-0.0816399976611137
Eastings532500
Northings213400
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Clark, G.T., 1884, Mediaeval Military Architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol. 2 p. 121