Stoney Middleton Castle Hill (The Gatehouse Record)

In the civil parish of Stoney Middleton.
In the historic county of Derbyshire.
Modern Authority of Derbyshire.
1974 county of Derbyshire.
Medieval County of Derbyshire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SK23057554
Latitude 53.27635° Longitude -1.65578°

Stoney Middleton Castle Hill has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

Description

Semi-circular earth platform, considered to be the remains of a castle mound, but has also been interpreted as the footings of a summer house. Platform, mound and a possible associated bank are visible as earthworks on air photographs mapped as part of the Derbyshire and Peak District Aggregates Assessment Project. Remnants appear to be still extant on Google Earth 2005 photography (accessed on 26th June 2009). (PastScape)

'The eminence known as "Castle Hill" is a conical summit on the Bank, Stoney Middleton, commanding a good view from the south. It is undoubtedly an old British earthwork or watch tower with a surrounding wall and a vallum, or ditch, leading to another similar hill called Castra Bank…Much might be gleaned by excavating at the summit by means of a pick and shovel. At the demolition of an old barn belonging to Dennis Ragg, of Stoney Middleton Bank, in 1806, an iron battle axe 4 feet long was found in a side wall…'. (Cowen). 'Castle Hill, a village landmark...The hill is surmounted by a circular earthwork, and an ancient battle-axe and other articles have been brought to light from time to time'. (Daniel). Small semi-circular earth platform, probably a site for a summer house and of no archaeological interest. (Personal Observation: F1 BHS 18-NOV-65). Stoney Middleton - Castle Hill ringwork is situated on a small hill and is well located to command east-west traffic. A ditch some 8-10m wide encircles a flat platform, oval in plan and 12-25m across. Pot-sherds of 13th to 14th century date have from time to time been revealed by the activity of moles (Hart). (Derbyshire HER)

Comments

Earlier version of the National Monument Record seem to have accepted the 1965 dismissal of this site (which influenced Gatehouse to dismiss the site in early versions of this record). However, Hart's description and interpretation seems to suggest is may well be a small ringwork in an entirely likely location for such, near to the church, on a road where it enters a narrow gorge leading to the important lead and silver mines of Derbyshire.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 311941.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 13131.

Books
- Smith, Michael E., 1992, Castles and Manor Houses in and around Derbyshire (Derby)
  Hart, C.R., 1981, The North Derbyshire archaeological survey to AD1500 p. 146
  Cowen, T.E., 1941, In Derbyshire Dales (Sheffield: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd) p. 13
Periodical Articles
- Daniel, C., 1954, 'Stoney Middleton' Derbyshire Countryside Vol. 20 p. 64-66

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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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