Hawcocks Mount

Description

Hawcocks Mount ringwork survives well and is a good example of its class. It will retain archaeological information relating to its construction, and to the character of its occupation. Environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which it was constructed will be preserved sealed on the old land surface beneath the rampart and in the lower sediments of the ditch fill. The proximity of Caus Castle which lies approximately 1km to the west of the ringwork, and the suggestion in the 14th century field name that the two sites are related to each other, adds to the archaeological importance of the site. Such monuments when considered, either as individual sites, or as a part of the broader medieval landscape contribute valuable information relating to the settlement pattern, economy, military technology and social organisation of the countryside during the medieval period.
The monument includes Hawcocks Mount, the remains of a ringwork castle situated on an east facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Rea, along which ran the old routeway from Shrewsbury to Montgomery. The ringwork stands in a field which was known in 1361 as Aldescausefield (Old Caus Field) subsequently this became corrupted to Hawcocks Field. The name is believed to refer to Caus Castle, a major Norman castle and borough which lies approximately 1km to the west. It is possible that the ringwork is associated with the larger site and that it may be the predecessor of the castle. The ringwork is roughly circular in plan with an overall diameter of approximately 72m and includes an outer ditch, scarped rampart and inner bank. The ditch survives as a substantial earthwork, averaging 8m wide and 2m deep around the west, south and south east sides of the site; it remains water-filled around the south east quarter. A causeway 3m wide crosses the ditch in the south west quarter of the site. Around the north and north east sides of the site the ditch is no longer visible but it will survive as a buried feature of similar proportions. A substantial scarp rises from the ditch to a height of 7m and is surmounted around its upper edge by a pronounced bank 4m wide and 1.5m high, interrupted in its northern quarter by a possible entrance gap 5m wide. The interior of the ringwork is roughly oval in plan with dimensions of 33m north to south by 28m transversely. Its surface is level with no visible earthworks. (Scheduling Report)

The ring-work at Hawcocks Mount was possibly the predecessor to Caus Castle. It stands in a field which in 1361 was known as "Aldecausefield" (Old Caus Field), subsequently corrupted to Hawcocks Field, and was situated on the old road from Westbury to Montgomery. Rig-and-Furrow visible in the surrounding field may be associated with a deserted hamlet, possibly of pre-Conquest date. (PastScape ref. VCH 1908)

Comments

Was this the site of the Domesday manor of Alretone as suggested by Eyton (although Open Domesday locates it as Trewern)? If this was a precursor site to Caus Castle what was the reason for building a small ringwork here rather than immediately moving to the existing Iron hill fort?