Stowey Castle, Stowey Sutton

Description

This is a narrow oval earthwork formed by a bank and ditch cutting off the western end of a spur. There is a small bank on the S. and a scarp around the NW. Quarrying has destroyed all trace of the defences on the N. This earthwork may well be a variation of ring castle (there is no evidence of a motte) but due to the lack of documentary evidence it should also be noted that its situation and configuration are consistent with an Iron Age enclosure. Published survey (1:2500) revised. The small double bank shown on O.S. 25" to the east of the earthwork has been ploughed out. It is probable that this was only a lane or trackway and is unlikely to have been associated with the earthwork (Field Investigators Comments–F1 JP 14-FEB-67).
The possible ringwork ... is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the Mendip Hills AONB NMP project. The ringwork forms an oval enclosure of which only the south and east sides are visible on the aerial photographs due to dense vegetation cover to the west and north. The south side is defined by a bank measuring about 3m in width and an internal ditch measuring about 7m in width. The bank continues to the NE corner. A later field boundary cuts across the site from ST 5978 5931 to ST 5968 5929. Although no mound is visible as motte on aerial photographs the Bath and North East Somerset SMR describe a partial mound within the wood on the west side of the ringwork which is consistent with this being a motte and bailey site. A narrow bank is visible to the east of the ringwork extending from ST 5987 5928 to ST 5980 5928, this bank may represent a contemporary trackway but its date is unknown. A later ditched trackway is visible to the SE of the ringwork and is likely a later post medieval trackway. The ringwork is still visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken in 2007. (PastScape–ref airborne survey)

Comments

The topographical location is that of an Iron Age promontory fort but such sites are sometimes reused for a castle (i.e. Castle Neroche) and this is close to the parish church. Called a possible castle by King who used the term 'possible' for sites for which he had significant doubt. Prior (2004) accepts this as a castle and also quotes the scheduling record 'There is a great deal of stone lying around on the surface, inside the enclosure' as evidence for a a later or associated structure. The site has been quarried and the stone inside the enclosure and, possibly, the reported mound may actually represent quarry workings and spoil. Gatehouse has considerable doubt as to this being the site of a medieval castle although it may have had some short term immediate post-Conquest occupation (although there is no evidence of this).