Monument record 0017400000 - THE CASTLE, ROOK WOOD

Dimensions - Width 55m.
Plan Form - SQUARE
SQUARE DITCH & BANK WITH CAUSEWAY ON NE SIDE. EARTHWORK STRONG ON NE SIDE & CORNER: DIM. FROM BANK TOP TO DITCH BOTTOM 350CM. DITCH 10M ACROSS. SOME PROB RB SHERDS (00:001) & MED SHERDS & SLAG (00:002) FOUND. POSSIBLE ROMAN SUMMER CAMP? (B1-B10).
(SP 90870043) The Castle (NR) (B6).
A nearly square enclosure of simple plan and doubtful origin, possibly a medieval manorial stronghold but owing to the levels, the ditches can never have held water. The defences at the strongest part consist of a rampart 11ft high and a ditch 7ft deep. The entrance is on the NE side with a causeway across the ditch. On the SW side is another entrance, probably modern (B4).


The Castle (name verified). A well engineered defensive earthwork consisting of a rampart and outer ditch, measuring overall c80.0m square with round corners but not of uniform construction. On the NE side is the original central causewayed entrance with the rampart and ditch on both sides inturned into it. Here the internal bank is c2.0m high and the ditch from the top of the bank to the base of the ditch is c3.0m high. On the NW and SE sides, the defences progressively reduce towards the SW where the internal bank is c0.5m high and from the bottom of ditch to the top of the bank is c1.5m high. Here a modern way cuts the work near a circular pit which mutilates the inner bank. There is no trace of structure in the internal area and no levelling or interruption of the natural SW slope is apparent. The size, good preservation and the only known finds (see Authy 3) suggest this is a Md work. Published 25" survey revised (B13).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.