Reasons for Designation
Ringworks are medieval fortifications built and occupied from the late Anglo-
Saxon period to the later 12th century. They comprised a small defended area
containing buildings which was surrounded or partly surrounded by a
substantial ditch and a bank surmounted by a timber palisade. Occasionally a
more lightly defended embanked enclosure, the bailey, adjoined the ringwork.
Ringworks acted as strongholds for military operations and in some cases as
defended aristocratic or manorial settlements. Between the Norman Conquest and
the mid-13th century, mainly during the 12th century, a number of motte and
bailey castles and ringworks were remodelled in stone. In the case of
ringworks, this could involve the replacement of the timber palisade
surmounting the defensive bank with a thick stone wall to form a "shell keep".
With only 200 examples recorded in England, ringworks are rare nationally and
shell keeps constructed on ringworks are particularly rare with only 8
examples known to have been converted in this way. As one of a limited number
and very restricted range of Norman fortifications, ringworks are of
particular significance to our understanding of the period.
Details
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
23030
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
