Bideford Castle Park Enclosure (The Gatehouse Record)

In the civil parish of Bideford.
In the historic county of Devonshire.
Modern Authority of Devon.
1974 county of Devon.
Medieval County of Devon.

OS Map Grid Reference: SS435265
Latitude 51.01735° Longitude -4.23142°

Bideford Castle Park Enclosure has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such, and also as a Masonry Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

Earthwork of irregular oblong shape, with the foundations of a keep to the east end, in a field called 'Castle Park'. Almost destroyed by ploughing. (Devon and Dartmoor HER)

Ancient earthworks exist, or are recorded at ... Bideford (Castle Park). (Worth) An earthwork, of irregular oblong shape, formed by a single bank and ditch about 260 feet in length from east to west, has been almost destroyed by ploughing in a field called 'Castle Park', about a mile west of Bideford near the estate of Daddon (now Moreton Park - SS 4326). The bank was about 30 feet high. Near the east end were the foundations of a keep, nearly circular and about 95 feet in diameter, with a ditch 15 feet in width. (Davidson) There is no trace of any earthwork in the extensive grounds of Moreton Park, now Grenville College. The area is relatively flat and unlikely to contain what appears to have been a promontory work of some sort. No documentary information could be obtained locally to sustain Davidison's note and it may be the location is in error for he does say 'near' the estate of Daddon (which could have been of great size) not on the estate proper. (Field Investigators Comments–F1 NVQ 05-DEC-80) (PastScape)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 33108.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 11735.

Books
- Davidson, James, 1861, Notes on the antiquities of Devon before the Norman Conquest p. 16
Periodical Articles
- Worth, R.N., 1891, 'Ancient Earthworks' Devonshire Association reports and transactions Vol. 23 p. 96 (listed) online copy

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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.

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