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 or, rarely, a
stone wall. 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.
They are rare nationally with only 200 recorded examples and less than 60
with baileys. As such, and as one of a limited number and very restricted
range of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fortifications, ringworks are of particular
significance to our understanding of the period.
Details
Castle Hill ringwork at Weedon Lois lies in the centre of the village,
adjacent to the village green and to the east of the parish church of St Peter
and St Mary.
The ringwork has a sub-rectangular bank approximately 3m to 4m high which
surrounds a central area about 23m across. The interior of the mound is
higher than the surrounding land and in places, particularly on the south of
the site where there has been a little disturbance, the bank is level with the
interior. There is a slight impression of a ditch up to 5m wide on the east
and north east of the ringwork, within the area of the village green. On the
west and south of the ringwork the line of the ditch is indicated by the
modern sunken roadway.
This ringwork is considered to have been constructed as a defensive earthwork
by Ghilo of Picquigni, who was recorded at the time of Domesday as holding
Weedon as the head manor of his estates. It is known too that he held part of
the estate at Sulgrave with two other persons, one of whom owned land at
Culworth. Ringworks are also preserved at both of these sites.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13663
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
