GATEHOUSE
The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
Home
The listings
Other Info
Books
Links
Downloads
Contact
 
Print Page 
 
Next Record 
Previous Record 
Back to list 

Coughton Danes Bank

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Cappa Hill; Clappers Hill

In the civil parish of Coughton.
In the historic county of Warwickshire.
Modern Authority of Warwickshire.
1974 county of Warwickshire.
Medieval County of Warwickshire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SP06456022
Latitude 52.24023° Longitude -1.90676°

Coughton Danes Bank has been described as a Timber Castle but is rejected as such.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

Danes Bank: A long rectangular mound crowning the top of Cappa Hill. It is like a gigantic barrow encompassed by a double rampart, terminating on the north side with 2 rectangular enclosures. I have not found another of similar character (Burgess). Rounded knoll called 'Clappers' Hill', in a dominating position. The remains are now slight and disconnected but were strong when Burgess saw them. Described c. 1784 as an old Camp with deep ditches (VCH, 1904). Danes Bank was formerly called 'La Trenche' (date not given but content suggests 12th-13th c.; no mention in EPNS). On it are traces of a row of stakes which, it has been suggested, marked at some time the eastern limit of the royal forest of Feckenham and was used as a deer leap (VCH, 1945). There is nothing extant at Danes Bank to warrant an archaeological association. It is an enclosed/banked area within the precincts of Coughton Park that has been used for major quarry working (gravel extraction), the fact that the quarrying in two places cuts through the Md. pale of Coughton, plus the knowledge that such working had ceased prior to the time of Burgess (1876) suggests a C17/18 date for the industry. The two noted "highest points" on Burgess's plan are spoil/upcast ridges - as correctly portrayed on the 25" - his two "rectangular enclosures" are not traceable, and the "ravine with water" is a deep quarry pit. Whether there was occupation on the hill prior to the industrial working cannot now be ascertained. The site is not particularly defensively strong, is very water-logged, and no record has been encountered re. local archaeological 'finds'. Danes Bank is now under thick bracken with light tree growth (Field Investigators Comments–F1 FDC 11-SEP-68). Scheduled under 'Castles and Fortifications' as 'Danes Bank' (DOE AM's in England 1973 p. 216). (PastScape)
Comments

Quarry and possibly park earthworks but not a medieval fortification of any type. Burgess is not alone in creating fanciful military interpretations of earthworks although his plans are a fine example of how people can get so carried away. The park was that for Coughton Court, which was a moated medieval manor house of some size and importance.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
PastScape   County HER   Scheduling        
Maps >
Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
Data/Maps > 
Magic   V. O. B.   Geology   LiDAR   Open Domesday  
Air Photos > 
Bing Maps   Google Maps   Getmapping   ZoomEarth      
Photos >
CastleFacts   Geograph   Flickr   Panoramio      

Sources of information, references and further reading
Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.
It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from ANY site without proper recording and reporting.
Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.
The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of Historic England, County Historic Environment Records and other individuals and organisations. It may also contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
The author and compiler of Gatehouse does not receive any income from the site and funds it himself. The information within this site is provided freely for educational purposes only.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.
The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.
Please help to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting Gatehouse if you see errors, can add information or have suggestions for improvements in functality and design.
Help is acknowledged.
This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:20:10

Home | Books | Links | Fortifications and Castles | Other Information | Help | Downloads | Author Information | Contact
¤¤¤¤¤