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Other Castles
Possibilities and Suggestions

Other earthworks in the county have also been suggested as possible remains of motte and bailey castles. Many thanks to Philip Davis for the following details:

Chieveley Castle
at Oare Common (506733)
Two incomplete curvilinear ditched enclosures survive as earthworks in the woods on Oare Common in Chieveley parish. One of the enclosures is defined by a ditch which describes an arc, 120m long and encloses an area which measures 55m across. A ditch, measuring 90m long, is situated to the north of the enclosure and may be an outwork. The other enclosure encloses a curvilinear area which measures 60m by 40m. The date of these features is unclear. They could be of late prehistoric date but it has been suggested that they represent the remnants of a Medieval ring motte and bailey. Rejected by the indomitable David Cathcart King as an Iron Age hillfort. King did try to visit every castle in England and Wales and whilst he is not infallible his opinion deserves great respect.

Finchampstead Castle
at Finchampstead (792644)
Recorded in the National Sites & Monuments Record as a mound 13m in diameter and 0.2m high. Variously interpreted as either a Bell Barrow, Medieval Motte or Post Medieval Gun Emplacement. It is doubtful that it is a castle.

Shellingford Castle
at Shellingford Manor (319935)
King reports this as a possible, if somewhat unlikely, castle site. The National Sites & Monuments Record records it as the site of a 16th century manor house, but it could have earlier occupation.

Shippon Castle
at Abingdon (503984)
King mentions this as a possible castle. The National Sites & Monuments Record describes it as "Site of an earthwork of uncertain age or function on the upper Oxford Road, Abingdon. The siting agrees with an earthwork called `Serpenhills' by Leland in the 16th century. North of the FitzHarris motte in an area called Northcourt." This was supposedly the site of a 9th century battle between the Saxons & the Danes and may represent the remains of their trenches.

Wallingford Siege Castle
at St Peter's Church in Wallingford (609896)
Derek Renn suggests the mound here as a possible siege work of Wallingford Castle dating from 1140. It is not mentioned in the National Sites & Monuments Record. Philip Davis believes it is probably a spoil heap associated with the rebuilding of the church in the 18th century.

Woolley Castle
at Mitchell Copse, Woolley Farm, Chaddleworth (407796)
Probable Medieval ring work visible as a cropmark, measuring 46m in diameter and mapped from aerial photographs. A collection of 12th century pottery has been found on the site.

References: David J Cathcart King's 'Castellarium Anglicanum' & Derek F Renn's Norman 'Castles of Britain'.

Information is still sought on:

Easthampstead Castle
at Wooden Hill, Bracknell (861667)

Farley Castle
at Farley Hill, Swallowfield

 

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