Information for record number MWA240:
Hartshill Castle, Phase II

Summary The remains of Hartshill Castle, which was originally built during the Medieval period. It is situated on the east side of Hartshill Hayes Country Park.
What Is It?  
Type: Castle, Enclosure
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Hartshill
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 32 94
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: II)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Stands in a commanding position. Fortified in the time of Henry I (1100-35) as a motte and bailey castle (PRN 241), possibly by Hugh de Hardreshull. Only the earthworks remain of the early castle together with practically the whole of the E wall and a portion of the S wall of a contemporary stone-built chapel (PRN 242). The castle was rebuilt possibly about 1330 by John de Hardreshull. Much of the boundary wall remains. The position of the cross-shaped loopholes in this wall indicate that the keep was situated well away from it. The boundary wall excluded the motte but embraced the early stone chapel. The pools on the E may have been made at this time or in the 16th century when Michael and Edmund Parker leased the castle with its 'castellated manor house'.
2 Suggests William de Hardreshull, in the time of King John (1199-1216), was possibly the rebuilder and not John.
3 Describes the curtain wall as 13th century and makes no mention that the chapel is earlier. The diagonal buttress at the NE angle may have been added when the house was built. Gives a detailed description of the remains and the history of the manor.
7 Included in Warwickshire Monuments Evaluation and Presentation Project. In 1980 the curtain wall was dilapidated and crumbling in places although most of its circuit survives in plan. The south face of the wall is best preserved.
19 Documentary research and standing building recording undertaken by Martin Wilson. This recorded evidence of Ludford's restoration of the castle in the early 19th century.
20 A photographic survey focussing on masonry elements of the castle was undertaken in October 2014. The survey includes archive photos from 2002 and documents unauthorised repairs, which had been carried out to the castle, chapel and a 16th century house, in the intervening 12 years.
21 Hartshill castle was one of the early motee and bailey castles in Warwickshire which was rebuilt in stone. This may date to the 12th century, although it is possible that it occurred in the 13th century.
 
Sources

Source No: 21
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Symbols of Status in Medieval Warwickshire (1000-1500)
Author/originator: Hook D
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 117
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 4, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 4
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery
Date: 1969
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: The owner of Hartshill Castle in 1971
Date: 1971
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Hayes
Author/originator: WCC
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Castle and Oldbury Camp
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1989
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 17
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 18
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: Mrs J Bostock/EH
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1959
Page Number: 18
Volume/Sheet: Atherstone Rural
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: Warwickshire Monuments Evaluation and Presentation Project
Author/originator: Baker H
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Field Survey Form
   
Source No: 20
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Hartshill Castle, Hartshill, Warwickshire: Stonework Photographic Survey
Author/originator: Catherine Coutts
Date: 2015
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Note
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Plan
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Source No: 19
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA (West Midlands Archaeology) Vol 49
Author/originator: CBA West Midlands
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 39
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 53
Author/originator: Chatwin P B
Date: 1928
Page Number: 209-10
Volume/Sheet: 53
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 67
Author/originator: Chatwin P B
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 67
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: DoE/Ministry of Works
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM list 1985
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Hartshill Castle
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
Hartshill Castle, North Warwickshire
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
Hartshill Castle, North Warwickshire
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
Hartshill Castle on the 1888 Ordnance Survey map
Copyright: Open
Date: 1888
Click here for larger image  
 
A carved stone head from Hartshill Castle, North Warwickshire
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
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designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SAM List Scheduled Ancient Monument List. A list or schedule of archaelogical and historic monuments that are considered to be of national importance. The list contains a detailed description of each Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and a map showing their location and extent. By being placed on the schedule, SAMs are protected by law from any unauthorised distrubance. The list has been compiled and is maintained by English Heritage. It is updated periodically. back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Earthwork Earthworks can take the form of banks, ditches and mounds. They are usually created for a specific purpose. A bank, for example, might be the remains of a boundary between two or more fields. Some earthworks may be all that remains of a collapsed building, for example, the grassed-over remains of building foundations.

In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky than during the other seasons, earthworks have larger shadows. From the air, archaeologists are able to see the patterns of the earthworks more easily. Earthworks can sometimes be confusing when viewed at ground level, but from above, the general plan is much clearer.

Archaeologists often carry out an aerial survey or an earthwork survey to help them understand the lumps and bumps they can see on the ground.
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period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument MANOR HOUSE * The principal house of a manor or village. back
monument KEEP * The major tower of a fortification, often acting as its last defence. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument MOTTE AND BAILEY * An early form of castle consisting of a flat-top steep-sided earthen mound, supporting a wooden tower, and a bailey. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COUNTRY PARK * An area of managed countryside designated for visitors to enjoy recreations, such as walking specified parks and trails, in a rural environment. Often provides public facilities such as parking, toilets, cafes and visitor information. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument BAILEY * The courtyard of a castle, ie. the area enclosed by the rampart or curtain. Use with wider site type where known. back
monument BOUNDARY WALL * Any wall enclosing a building or complex of buildings, eg. prisons, dockyards, factories, etc. back
monument CURTAIN WALL * A wall between two towers or pavilions, usually surrounding a building, and often forming a major part of the defences. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back
monument MOTTE * An artificial steep-sided earthen mound on, or in, which is set the principal tower of a castle. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record