Medieval motte and bailey, Canfield Castle (EHER 4299)

The earthwork remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle and associated moated enclosure. There is documentary evidence for the site from 1154 to 1216.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The Mount (GT) Site of keep (GT) Site of Castle (GT). <1> On low ground close to the River Roding. Well preserved mount and bailey earthwork. Origin doubtful but possibly a castle of the de Veres, Earls of Oxford. In plan the site consists of large moated mount, a horseshoe shaped bailey on the south side and traces of a weaker enclosure on the west. The moats are fed by a small stream and could be reinforced by closing a dam. The mount is 48ft high x 280ft in diameter at base (east-west). There is a distinct berm, about 10ft wide, upon the slope but it does not run round the moat at the same level. There is no apparent entrance. On the summit is a small mound. The moat is now nearly dry and 45ft wide at the bottom, on average. The mount is thickly planted. No trace of masonry at the summit. The bailey to the south of the mount originally had a double rampart and ditch but the outer ditch has disappeared, except on the east. The inner rampart is about 10ft above the interior level and 20ft above the bottom of the ditch which is 100ft wide from crest to crest. On the east, the outer rampart is 5-8ft above the ditch and 5ft above the exterior level. The outer ditch is very slight. The bailey entrance appears to have been at the north east corner. A ditch on the west side leads into the bailey moat at a higher level. Another ditch, parallel with the south wall of the churchyard, communicates with the ditch of the mount and a large pond further to the west may mark the site of the west arm of the enclosure. <2> Traces of an enclosure to the north enclosing the parish church. <3> <4> In 1086 Aubrey de Vere held two hides as tenant-in-chief and two and a half hides as tenant of Alan of Brittany. <5> The castle was owned by the de Veres for many years. <6> Mentioned in 1214. <7> Timber fragments and pottery recovered from excavation on axial line of motte ditch. <8> Canfield Castle. Scheduled no. 14. <9> Recorded as extant in the period 1154-1216, at which time it was in the possession of the Earls of Oxford. <10> Listed by Cathcart King. <11> Two photos. <12> Photographed from the air by ECC in 1986 and 1988. <13> <14> NMP plot from these and other aerial photos. <15> - <25> February 1950. Field survey. Motte in good condition - tree covered. Bailey in good condition - interior used as a field. Both correct as shown on 6" field sheet. The bank shown previously to the east of the keep on the far side of the stream has been ploughed out and is only traceable by a small elevation across the field and by light discoloration of the soil - too weak to show with slopes. The weak ditch on the west side has been ploughed out and is only represented by a slight longitudinal hollow and light soil discoloration - too weak to show with slopes. The counterscarp outside the bank on the south-east side of the stream has been obliterated. The moat on the south-west side of the bailey is now permanently dry. The only parts of the moat which are wet are those occupied by the active stream bed. <26> <27> January 1974. Field survey. The Mount - (name verified) a motte and single bailey situated on the edge of the Roding flood plain on gentle west rising ground. The motte is tree planted with later concentric land-scaped terraces. A circular earthen mound (c 7.0m diameter) on the level summit appears modern. The moat formerly surrounding the motte is dry, but modern detail and the plough have destroyed the course of the eastern bank. The bailey bank and enclosure are under scrub and light forestation. The surrounding moat is dry and its course well defined, but the external ditch shown on the OS 25" on the E side has largely been destroyed by plough. To the west of the complex, around The Hall, is the fragmentary remains of a probable homestead moat which is contiguous to the motte and bailey moat. The Hall dates to the 16th century, but is modernised and not outstanding. There is no trace of a former structure within the grounds, but local tradition asserts that an earlier house existed. Published survey 25" re-surveyed. <28> <29> See also: <30> - <35> Area = 0.59