The Berry ringwork

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.

The Berry is one of seven surviving medieval ringworks in Northamptonshire. It has a long history of occupation and is in an essentially undisturbed condition.

Details

The Berry is the site of a ringwork which stood at the centre of the medieval village of Rothersthorpe. The site is an irregularly shaped enclosure measuring approximately 120m from east to west and about 90m from north to south. The ringwork is delineated on the north and west sides by a wide ditch between 2.5m and 4m deep. There are also remains of an inner rampart in the north east corner and at the southern end of the site. Undulating features in the west of the interior of the ringwork indicate the locations of former buildings. On the eastern side of the interior remains of ridge and furrow ploughing can be seen. The Memorial Hall building is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground below it is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13661

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England, , Archaeological sites of Northamptonshire, Volume III, (), 130-1

Other
SMR indicates long history to site, Northants Arch Unit, SMR Records, (1990)

End of official list entry

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