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| Monument Name |
The Rookery or Cumber Hills |
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| SMR Number |
3854 |
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| Summary |
Ringwork motte (term preferred by J D Hedges to describe this and similar sites in Essex). |
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| Media |
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| Associated Media |
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| Description |
Ringwork motte (term preferred by J D Hedges to describe this and similar sites in Essex). Excavated by Knocker, finds included 12th-13th century pottery. Surrounded by a U-shaped ditch, overall diameter c180ft, central area 72ft across. Ditch 5-6ft deep, filled with c2ft of wet silt. Finds also included a 12th century pot in the make-up of the bank, a 13th century pot in the central hearth. A map of 1602 shows the earthworks somewhat sketchily as a rectangle (with S P Plowden at Berden Hall?). On an RAF photo donated by Mrs Angela Colne, a note says 'The interior of this work is boggy and contains water. Destroyed by ploughing and the name 'The Rookery' is no longer used locally (1975). The field in which the earthwork stands was called 'Cumber Hills' in 1839. <1>-<7> 1950 the moat was permanently dry for half its circumference on the south side. It is suggested that it was unfinished and that it predated the similar site (0122) at TL 46952895. By 1966 the site had been completely ploughed out. <2> <7>
Excavation 1954 by G.M. Knocker on behalf of the DOE. Report TEAS NS 25, 258 suggests 12th-13th century date on basis of finds. <3><8> |
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| Monument Type(s) |
RINGWORK (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
HEARTH (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
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| Monument Class(es) |
EARTHWORK
SUB SURFACE DEPOSIT
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Period
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1066AD to 1539AD Medieval
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| Status |
Not Known |
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| Administration Area |
BERDEN, UTTLESFORD, ESSEX |
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National Grid Reference
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Square: TL42NE
Ref: 465291 |
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| Finds |
POTTERY VESSEL (Dated 1066AD To 1539AD)
POTTERY VESSEL (Dated 1066AD To 1539AD)
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| Events |
PART EXCAV by Knocker,
PART SURVEY by OS
Excavation at the Rookery
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Sources
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Desc Text : TL42NE05 (unknown)
Desc Text : An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Vol 1 (RCHME) Vol 1, p26 Dated : 1916
Aerial Photo : 58/42/PTII/5246 (RAF) Dated : 1948
Desc Text : OSCARD - TL42NE05 (Ordnance Survey) TL42NE05 Dated : 1950
Excavation report : Trans Essex Archaeol Soc (Knocker) New Series Vol 25, pp257-262 Dated : 1958
Desc Text : SMR Form (unknown) Dated : 1960s to
Aerial Photo : 543/2337/0212 (RAF) Dated : 1963
Desc Text : Ringworks of England and Wales (Cathcart-King, DJ and Alcock, L) Vol 3, pp 103, 113 Dated : 1966
Desc Text : Norman Castles in Britain (Renn, D) p107 Dated : 1968
Aerial Photo : OS/73/102/879 (Ordnance Survey) Dated : 1973
Desc Text : MSRG 42/3 The Rookery (Stokes, AH) Dated : 1975
Map : NMP Cropmark Plot - 1:10,000 (Ingle, CJ, Strachan, D, Tyler, S and Saunders, H) Dated : 1993 - 2010
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