DescriptionThe earthwork and buried remains of Kinghurst Castle, a motte and bailey castle and later medieval moated hall, which was constructed within the bailey of the castle, located on a natural eminence above the flood plain of the River Cole. The form of the motte suggests that it was constructed during the Norman period. The estate belonged to the De Monteford family during the Middle Ages, and the unusual form of the earthworks has led to suggestions that the castle may have been remodelled at a later date to form a fashionable domestic residence. Kinghurst Hall, a late Tudor to William and Mary brick built hall, was the last building to have survived on the moated island, until its demolition in the 1960s. Archaeological excavations in 1961 demonstrate that the motte was of two main periods. The first motte was a low ditched mound, which was later heightened and provided with an inner palisade, with large post holes suggesting a possible tower. This was dated by pottery finds to the 13th century. The motte measures 3-4 metres high and 10 metres in diameter across the summit and 20-25 metres in diameter across its base. It is surrounded by a ditch 10-15 metres wide and up to 1.5 metres deep. To the north east of the motte are the remains of the much modified bailey which was later converted to a moated residence. The interior revetted wall of the bailey was dated by excavation to the 14th century with later brickwork additions. The bailey measures 25 metres square and is surrounded by a moat up to 10 metres wide and 1.6 metres deep. The interior face of the moat is revetted with large red sandstone blocks at the base with Tudor brick work in the upper courses. Following the demolition of Kingshurst Hall in 1961, the area was landscaped. (PastScape)
An earthwork survey at a scale of 1:500 was carried out in Oct 1997. The earthworks, which cover an area of 0.36 hectares, are set within a residential housing estate. The motte is a relatively steep-sided sub-circular feature measuring up to 32m diameter at the base and diminishing to 9m at the top; it stands to a height of 3m above the ditch. Surrounding the mound is a ditch which is up to 2m wide and uniformly 1m deep. On the north-east side of the mound is a flat trapezoidal platform surrounded by a ditch. The platform measures 25x27m and stands 1.5m above the surrounding ditch. The platform is revetted by a brick wall on the north-east and north-west sides. In the eastern corner the wall has stone footings. The ditch measures 3m wide and a slight berm, measuring up to 1m wide, separates the wall and ditch. On the south-western side the construction of residential flats has masked the form of the ditch. (PastScape–ref. G Brown/OCT-1997/RCHME: Kingshurst Hall Survey)
The motte and bailey castle with later moated site at Stonebridge Crescent survives well, despite some disturbance of the bailey by the construction of a modern tower block, and will preserve evidence of the construction and use of the monument as well as the accommodation provided on the motte and within the bailey. In addition the later remodelling of the bailey area and creation of a moated hall by the 14th century, and later alterations to the house continuing into the 17th century, will demonstrate the changing lifestyles of the owners over a considerable period, as well as reflecting issues such as changing fashion and rising standards of living among the aristocracy. Artefacts buried in association with the buildings will provide further insights into the lifestyle of the inhabitants and assist in dating the changes through time. Environmental deposits from within the fills of the moat and the buried land surface beneath the motte will provide evidence of its economy and further information about the surrounding agricultural regime.
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of Kingshurst Castle, a motte and bailey castle and later medieval moated hall, which was constructed within the bailey of the castle, located on a natural eminence above the flood plain of the River Cole, within easy reach of an early ford. The castle is not listed as a separate estate in the Domesday survey, although the form of the motte suggests that it was constructed during the Norman period. The estate belonged to the De Monteford family during the Middle Ages, and the unusual form of the earthworks has led to suggestions that the castle may have been remodelled at a later date to form a fashionable domestic residence. Kingshurst Hall, a late Tudor to William and Mary brick built hall, was the last building to have survived on the moated island, until its demolition in the 1960s. Archaeological excavations in 1961 demonstrate that the motte was of two main periods. The first motte was a low ditched mound, which was later heightened and provided with an inner palisade, with large post holes suggesting a possible tower. This was dated by pottery finds to the 13th century. The motte measures 3m to 4m high and 10m in diameter across the summit and approximately 20m to 25m in diameter across its base. It is surrounded by a ditch 10m to 15m wide and up to 1.5m deep. To the north east of the motte are the remains of the much modified bailey which was later converted to a moated residence. The interior revetted wall of the bailey was dated by excavation to the 14th century with later brickwork additions. The bailey measures approximately 25m square and is surrounded by a moat measuring up to 10m wide and 1.6m deep. The interior face of the moat is revetted with large red sandstone blocks at the base with Tudor brick work in the upper courses. A single arched, brick faced bridge gives access to the island across the centre of the north eastern moat arm. The moated island rises approximately 1m above the surrounding ground level. Following the demolition of Kingshurst Hall in 1961, the area was landscaped. Further features, including a large sub-circular earthwork enclosure surrounded by ramparts and banks lying 160m to the east of the motte are recorded on maps. Although the location of this feature can be identified, the area has been altered by modern landscaping. It is therefore not included in the scheduling. Similarly the location of the demolished farm and outbuildings of the later Kingshurst Hall which lay to the north east of the moat, cannot now be accurately located and are not included in the scheduling. The tower block which was inserted into the north western angle of the monument, has destroyed all archaeological traces in its vicinity. (Scheduling Report)
