The Gatehouse website record for Motleys Castle, Idsworth

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Motleys Copse; Blendworth

In the civil parish of Rowlands Castle. In the historic county of Hampshire (Modern Authority of Hampshire, 1974 county of Hampshire).

The earthwork remains of a ringwork and bailey of probable C11 or C12 date, located within Motley's Copse. The ringwork comprises a circular platform surrounded by a defensive bank and outer ditch. The inner platform is internally sub-divided by 2 low earthen banks which radiate from the central well. The larger bailey abuts the ringwork to the west and forms a semi-circular area enclosed by a bank and outer ditch. The bailey is internally sub-divided by 2 intersecting, crescent-shaped banks and ditches, creating 2 inner loops and a large outer area which is in turn sub-divided by a linear ditch. The site lies within the boundaries of the medieval hunting forest of Bere and the Hundred of Finchingdean, owned by Robert, Earl of Arundel. It is suggested that the ringwork and bailey may have formed one of a number of strongholds he defended against Henry I before being banished in 1101.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU72481218

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 242822
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 22757 '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.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
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