Miserden Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; La Musardere

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

Motte and Bailey Castle. A massive partly rock cut ditch 6.1m deep and 10m wide cuts north to south across the neck of the spur, completely separating it from the mainland. Further to the east a second slighter ditch 1.7m deep and 13m wide cuts similarly north to south. These two ditches isolate the high central part of the spur, to create a mound 10m high with a top 40m north west to south east by 34m transversely. There are outworks and the remains of a curtain wall. The castle is first mentioned in 1146. Abandoned by 1289.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO94400925

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
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 117125
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
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Gloucestershire and Bristol (Malvern) p23
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p80
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p182
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p262
    Herbert, N.M. (ed), 1976, VCH Gloucestershire Vol11 p50 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=19034
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker) p245
    Verey, D., 1970, Buildings of England Gloucestershire Vol1 p323
• Journal Articles
  • Smith, Nicola, 1998, 'Manless Town, Brimpsfield: An Archaeological Survey' Glevensis Vol31 p54
    Walker, D., 1991, 'Gloucestershire Castles' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol109 p15 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
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 p249-280 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p90-121] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
    Baddeley, 1918, Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club Vol20 p45-