Harescombe Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Horescombe

In the civil parish of Harescombe. In the historic county of Gloucestershire (Modern Authority of Gloucestershire, 1974 county of Gloucestershire).

Possible castle probably built 1140. Tradition of stone been robbed. Recorded in PastScape as "Supposed site of manor house or castle. Infilled mill pond, possible fishponds and slight earthwork platform(s)." Tradition of stone robbing might be a confusion with local Roman site (SO840091) also with tradition of stone robbing. Plane table survey of the supposed site of a manor house at Harescombe, Glos, was undertaken as a training exercise for two students (Sarah Connor and Liz Anderson) on placement from the Oxford Diploma course. The survey, at 1:500 scale, showed a rectangular platform defined by slight scarps.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO83651040

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 115590
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Books
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p185 [possible]
    Bigland, Ralph (ed. Frith, B.), 1990, Historical collections relative to the county of Gloucester [originally published 1786-92] Vol2 p581
• Journal Articles
  • Walker, D., 1991, 'Gloucestershire Castles' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol109 p14 http://www2.glos.ac.uk/bgas/tbgas/v109/bg109005.pdf
    Rawes, B., 1977, 'A Check List of Castles and other Fortified Sites of Medieval Date in Gloucestershire' Glevensis Vol11 p39-41
    Hall, J.M., 1885-6, 'Harescombe-Fragments of Parochial History' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol10 p72-3 http://www2.glos.ac.uk/bgas/tbgas/v010/bg010067.pdf
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Harvey, J. (ed), 1969, William of Worcester Itinerarii p287