Monument record 0002000000 - CYMBELINE'S MOUNT

Summary

Cymbeline's Mount, medieval motte and bailey castle recorded in field survey on the tip of a spur below Beacon Hill. The motte is about 42m in diameter an 6 to 8m high and c.15 wide at the top. There are two baileys, the larger one is to the south and roughly square about 40m across. The norther bailey is later and measures 48m by 20m.

Protected Status/Designation

Archaeological Notification Area: Medieval motte and bailey castle at Cymbeline's Mount (DBC9141)
Scheduled Monument 1013941: CYMBELINE'S CASTLE: A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE 550M SOUTH WEST OF ELLESBOROUGH CHURCH (DBC7125)

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Type and Period (1)

MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Description

Dimensions - Radius 0021 m Height 0006
Plan Form - CIRCULAR
EARLY REFERENCES TO PULPIT HILL CAMP AS CYMBELINE'S MOUNT & THIS SITE AS BELLINUS' CASTLE (B1).
ON SMALL SPUR, POSITION NATURALLY STRONG. SURROUNDED BY DITCH (B5).
SCHEDULED. DESCRIPTION (B8).
Would have been intervisible with 'motte' at Church Farm (B10).

(SP 832063) Cymbeline's Castle (NAT) Motte & Bailey (NR) (B11).
A motte and bailey situated on a small spur in Chequers Park; especially interesting on account of the small size of the baileys, and the natural strength of its position. The motte is circular, surrounded by a ditch, and has a small but strongly defended bailey on the SE, and a still smaller and considerably weaker bailey on the NE. There is no indication of an entrance (See plan) (b3). The name seems to be romantically derived from the 'Kimble' place-name (b12). Lipscomb however applies it to the 'Camp' on Pulpit Hill (SP 80 NW:9) (B1, B2, B3, and B12) .
Motte with two baileys as described above, the motte having a diameter of 42.0m, and a height of 6.0m, the larger bailey measuring 40.0m by 30.0m, and the smaller bailey, 50.0m by 25.0m. In good condition, under turf and light woodland. Published 1:2500 survey revised (B13).
Listed by Cathcart King (B14).

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

Sources (15)

<1>SBC26952 Bibliographic reference: George Lipscomb. 1847. The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham (Volume 2). Volume 2. p172.
<2>SBC20350 Bibliographic reference: A Hadrian Allcroft. 1908. Earthwork of England. pp411-412, Fig 129.
<3>SBC20466 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1912. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire Volume 1. Volume 1. p139.
<4>SBC11464 Bibliographic reference: OXONIENSIA 1942 7 P109 FIG 25 NO.21/WAUGH H, MYNARD D C & CAIN R 1974 SOME IRON AGE POTTERY FROM .
<5>SBC11368 Unpublished document: Ordnance Survey Field Investigator. OS RECORD CARDS (FILED).
<6>SBC990 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire County Museum. 1973. BCM ACCESSIONS REGISTER 1973.
<7>SBC15087 Unpublished document: R D Thomson. THOMSON R D (BRISTOL UNIVERSITY) SEPT 1957.
<8>SBC13943 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1995. SCHEDULING LIST OF INSPECTORATE OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
<9>SBC19438 Graphic material: Went DA. 1995. MPP field worker site visit measured survey.
<10>SBC19440 Verbal communication: Farley M. 1996. Pers comm Farley M Site visit.
<11>SBC27454 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1960. Ordnance Survey Map (6" /1960). Map.
<12>SBC8280 Bibliographic reference: A Mawer & F M Stenton. 1925. PLACE-NAMES OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (ENGLISH PLACE-NAMES SOCIETY VOL 2). Vol 2.
<13>SBC29054 Verbal communication: A S Phillips. 1972. Field Investigator Comments - F1 ASP 23-FEB-72.
<14>SBC28066 Unpublished document: David Cathcart King. 1983. Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery.
<15>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE). Insert 1998; Update 2001, 2003, 2004.

Location

Grid reference	Centred SP 83264 06350 (98m by 106m) (2 map features)
Civil Parish	ELLESBOROUGH, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (4)

Event - Survey: MPP site visit (EBC15931)
Event - Survey: Site visit 1996 (EBC15934)
Event - Survey: Topographic earthwork survey (EBC18024)
Event - Survey: Topographic earthwork survey (EBC18025)

Record last edited

Feb 5 2026 11:46AM