Narberth Camp Hill (The Gatehouse Record)

Narberth Camp Hill

In the community of Narberth.
In the historic county of Pembrokeshire.
Modern authority of Pembrokeshire.
Preserved county of Dyfed.

OS Map Grid Reference: SN11211361
Latitude 51.78926° Longitude -4.73871°

Narberth Camp Hill has been described as a Timber Castle but is rejected as such.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

Description

The remains of a sub-circular, univallate, earthwork defended enclosure lie on a north-facing slope at 100m above sea level just off the highest point of a rounded hill. Only the northern side of the defensive circuit survives: there is no trace of the southern half of the circuit. The enclosure probably originally measured c.40m-50m diameter internally. The defence on the north side comprises a c.70m length of curving, spread bank standing up to 0.4m high and with traces of a ditch on its northeast side. A north-facing gap through the bank may represent an entrance. The site is under improved pasture. K Murphy and R Ramsey 8 December 2006 (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

The town of Narberth is built on rising ground just to the north of a small tributary of the Eastern Cleddau.
There is no direct evidence on the origins of settlement. Following the conquest of Pembrokeshire by the Normans under Arnulf de Montgomery, Narberth is said to have been granted to Stephen Perrott. It is unlikely, however, that he constructed any fortifications here, and the castle near Arberth was probably Sentence Castle at Templeton. Although midway between Narberth and Templeton stands the remains of another stronghold on Camp Hill which has been attributed to Perrott. It may well be that there was no castle at Narberth at that period but only at Camp Hill or Sentence Castle. (Hughes 2014)

Comments

Hughes does not cite his source for whom attributed Camp Hill to Perrott but it can be rejected as clearly an Iron Age enclosure with nothing to suggest medieval occupation.

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 304260.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 3785.

Other sources: Theses; 'grey' literature; in-house reports; unpublished works; etc.
- Basil H.J. Hughes, 2014, Pembrokeshire Parishes, Places & People Narberth Hundred p. 308 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.

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This record last updated 10/07/2016 04:40:25

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