Ecclesall Castle Dyke

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameEcclesall Castle Dyke
Alternative NamesRinginglow; Castle Dike Field
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthoritySheffield
1974 AuthoritySouth Yorkshire
Civil ParishSheffield

SK 308839. A circular entrenchment known as Castle Dykes at Ecclesall. (Castle Dike Field is mentioned in 1655) (Hunter).

There are no remains of this earthwork apart from a slight indefinable depression as SK 30818383 which may have represented part of a ditch. It is not defensively sited, however, and could be natural (F1 ECW 19-MAR-65).

SK 310838. Circular cropmark of entrenchment showing as a broad ring on AP, its diameter is 76m by 68m and the NE circumference is obliterated by the field boundary. A possible entrance at the NW can be seen. Visited by Welsh in 1976 who agreed with the grid reference given by authy 4 and stated by him that the bank and ditch were not natural. (PastScape)

Site of "A circular entrenchment" at Castle Dykes ('Castle Dike Field' is mentioned in 1655). Now no visible remains except sligt depression at SK 30818383, which may however be natural. (Hunter's South Yorkshire Vol I, 1828, iv.).

PIN 00256/01 may have been duplicated by PIN 3011. The Hunter Index records this feature at SK 310838 (the location of PIN 3011), but the OS record (used to create PIN 256) cites this source and then gives the grid reference as SK 308839 - this appears to be how confusion about the location of the site has arisen). DJS 16-1-15. (South Yorkshire SMR)

This circular bank earthwork SW of Sheffield, with a section of shallow ditch and outer bank to the east is discussed in YAJ No. 49, 1977. Apears 1841 OS. (Sneyd 1995)

Gatehouse Comments

A slight semi-circular cropmark is visible on some air photos. It seems likely there was an archaeological feature here but, arguably, more probably a pre-historic ring-ditch rather than a medieval ringwork. However this may well have been within Barnsdale Forest (at a time when it covered much of South Yorkshire) so just possibly the site of a forester dwelling. The C19 house bearing the name Castle Dykes clearly took its name from this feature but was not the site of a medieval manor house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK310838
Latitude53.3504219055176
Longitude-1.53447997570038
Eastings431000
Northings383800
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Sneyd, Steve, 1995, The Devil's Logbook Castles and Fortified Sites around South Yorkshire (Hilltop Press) p. 11
  • Hunter, J., 1828, South Yorkshire. The History and Topography of the Deanery of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York Vol. 1 p. iv

Journals

  • 1977, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 49