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Grimsbury Castle

West Berkshire, England · Atlas EN0095

Grimsbury Castle is a contour fort in Hermitage, West Berkshire, England.

Other names on the record: Grimsbury Camp.

It is recorded as extant, with a univallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank and counterscarp bank, and an enclosed area of 3.2 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a hilltop and a spur, at 155 m, and facing southwest.

Recorded land use includes woodland and scrub or bracken.

Dating evidence is recorded for 800–400 BC and 400 BC–AD 50 (Artefactual and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology). Reliability is recorded as B - Medium.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1006983).

Location

Atlas number
EN0095 (95)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
West Berkshire
Historic county
Berkshire
Parish, community, or townland
Hermitage
National Grid reference
SU 51094 72216
Latitude
51.44658
Longitude
-1.26618
Altitude
155 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
univallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
1
Number of ditches
1
Possible original entrances
3
Breaks through the ramparts
3
Enclosed area
3.2 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank and counterscarp bank
Enclosing works, excavated
earthen bank, stone wall, palisade, and counterscarp bank
Also recorded
ditches
Entrance forms
In-turned (West); Outworks (North); Simple Gap (North east)

Landscape

Topographic position
hilltop and spur
Aspect
southwest
Land use
woodland and scrub or bracken
Water source
spring and well or cistern

Dating

Dating
800–400 BC and 400 BC–AD 50
Dating evidence
Artefactual and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology
Dating reliability
B - Medium

Interior and investigation

Finds
pottery and lithics
Investigations
1st Identified Map Depiction (1808); Earthwork Survey (1901); Excavation (1957); Excavation (1960); Other (1963); 1st Identified Written Reference (1665-1693)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1006983
HER
West Berkshire MWB1527
National record
record SU 57 SW 6; monument 237396
Wikidata
Q31119906

Sources

References

  1. Gray, E.W. 1839: The History and Antiquities of Newbury and its Environs; Also a Catalogue of Plants Found in the Neighbourhood. 218-220. Speenhamland. Hall and Marsh.
  2. Wood, P. 1959: The Early Iron Age Camp called Grimsbury Castle, near Hermitage, Berks. Berkshire Archaeol J: 57, 74-82
  3. Wood, P. 1960 Excavations at Grimsbury Castle near Hermitage, Berks. Trans Newbury Dist Fld Club. Vol. 11, no. 2 , 3-61
  4. Anon. 1860. The Archaeology of Berkshire. J Brit Archaeol Ass 16, 1860: 229-30