The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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The Berries

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00496g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Caldicot
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : ST48738951
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Motte and bailey
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Please note that some of the sources contain information that, as yet, has not been included in this description field. This will be updated in due course. Castle mound & bailey, the latter surrounded by a wet ditch.

Description :
Please note that some of the sources contain information that, as yet, has not been included in this description field. This will be updated in due course.
Castle mound & bailey, the latter surrounded by a wet ditch. 2 elongated mounds S of the castle mound are merely the bailey bank across the neck of dry land.

Phillips notes that Mount Ballan is situated within private property and is also known as The Berries with evidence of a surrounding ditch and a 2.9m earthen rampart. The top surface area of the motte is noted as being quite small (4.16m in height and a surface area of 67.688m²), and notes rectilinear features on the raised bailey indicating foundations. Whilst the majority of the bailey does not possess a ditch, it is suggested that the site was constructed as an island utilising the boggy terrain as a defence (thought this would require great effort). Another theory is that this is a natural feature or that it is a site re-used by Normans, and Phillips recommends evaluation of the shallow earthworks by excavation or geophysical survey (Phillips 2004).

Sources :
Pannett, A. & Hadley, A. , 2015 , Oak Grove Farm, Crick, Monmouthshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Geophysical Survey
Phillips, N. , 2004 , Thesis: Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050 - 1250
Scott-Garret C. , 1951 , The Berries, Crick, Mon. , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 101 : 163-165
03/PM List//Min of Works/1955/Anc.Mons in Eng & Wales/p93
05/PM Desc Text/MSW/Scott-Garrett C/1951/Arch Camb/pt2 p163-5 The
02/MM Notes/Newport Mus/Downman EA/1910//Plan
Berries, Chick, Gwent.
04/MM Record Card/OS//1957/ST 48 NE 14/
01/PM Desc Text//Scott-Garrett/1951/Arch Camb/150 p163-4
07/Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report/2005/Copy in further information file

Events :
E003901 : Church Farm, Caldicot (year : 1993)
E004063 : Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050 - 1250 (year : 2004)
E008773 : GGAT52: Monmouthshire Historic Settlements, Caldicot & Raglan (year : 1999)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 94863

Compiled date : 02-02-1988


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