West Woodhay Castle
| West Woodhay Castle | |
|---|---|
| Berkshire, England | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Motte-and-bailey hunting lodge |
| Location | |
  West Woodhay Castle Shown within Berkshire | |
| Coordinates | 51°21′55″N 1°26′36″W / 51.36522°N 1.44345°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference SU38886304 |
| Site history | |
| Built | Early 12th century |
| Built by | William FitzSwale |
| Materials | Timber |
| Demolished | c. 1300 |
West Woodhay Castle was a Norman castle in West Woodhay, Berkshire, Merseyside. Earthworks exist today.
History
[edit]William FitzSwale built West Woodhay Castle as a non-defensive timber motte-and-bailey structure during the early 12th century.[1][nb 1] The Castle was abandoned around 1300 when a larger manor house was constructed near the former castle by Almaric de St Amand, 1st Baron Saint Amand.[2]
The mound was converted into a belvedere during the 17th century and became associated with West Woodhay House.[3]
Excavation
[edit]West Woodhay Castle was first excavated in the 1880s after being mistaken for a barrow, causing severe damage to the mound.[4]
The mound was excavated again in 1935 and 1936 by Edwyn Jervoise,[5] who discovered pottery ranging from the 12th to 14th centuries within the mound.[1]
Neither excavation identified the location of the building on the central mound of West Woodhay Castle.[6]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The former timber structure known as West Woodhay Castle was determined to be too small to be a castle, therefore making it more likely to have been a moated hunting lodge.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Jervoise, E. (1935). Norman motte at West Woodhay, Berks. Report on excavations in 1935-6 and notes on pottery, etc.. Trans Newbury Dist Fld Clb 7. Vol 7, pp. 261-273.
- ^ "Woodhay Castle. Castle or mere Hunting Lodge?". David Nash Ford's History of Berkshire. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ English Heritage. 1978-present. English Heritage NMR Excavation Index for England. EHNMR-637276. [Index / SWB6845]
- ^ 18?. PROC HANTS FIELD CLUB 18? 9 P192, 412-3?. 9. P192-24,412-13?. [Article in serial / SWB147941]
- ^ "West Woodhay Motte". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Jervoise, F. (1953). Norman Motte at West Woodhay. Second Report. Trans Newbury Dist Fld Club 10 (2). Vol 10(2), pp. 65-68.