Newport Pagnell Castle; The Battery

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Someries Castle

In the civil parish of Newport Pagnell. In the historic county of Buckinghamshire (Modern Authority of Milton Keynes, 1974 county of Buckinghamshire).

A mount measuring 60ft in diameter and 4ft in height. Formerly interpretted as both a motte and as a Civil War gun emplacement, its position is not particularly suitable for a defensive purpose. Probably a prospect for the River Ouse. (PastScape)
PastScape records a ‘Supposed site of a Castle’ at SP87894401 stating 'This is a doubtful antiquity and there is no substantive evidence.’ and adding 'The historical evidence for a castle at Newport Pagnell is meagre. The main authorities, Leland and Camden associated the castle with the Paynels and Somerys (six) who held the manor in C12 and C13. Leland also mentions "certen dikis....by the chirche, as there had been a castelle". There are also references to Castle Mead on the opposite bank of the Lovat (now Castle Meadow SP 880439) going back to C12, but no specific documentary reference to a castle. In any case it must have become disused at an early date, and the capital messuage here in 1272 probably replaced the castle if such ever existed.' (PastScape–record 345055)
I find the comment in PastScape about the defensive position somewhat strange. Apparently P. Fenton, the Designation Archaeologist felt 'This was possibly a garden feature or prospect mound. The feature is too small to be the site of a castle or battery.' (English Heritage Alternative Action Report 8-1-2004). The two given map references are close enough together to be one castle site. The position between the river and a tributary and by the church and the bridges crossing these waterways is entirely typical of many castles. On the 1886 map the site is marked as ‘site of mottes’ so perhaps this was an earthwork within this possible castle complex. To me it seems likely that some of the castle earthworks were preserved and altered to make a prospect mound, whilst others were removed for various purposes (road maintance fore instance). The presence of a castle in Newport Pagnell is confirmed by some historical records, Leland, and by castle placenames and this is the most likely site.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP87974404

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 344959; 345055
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 The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern) p36
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p28
    Page, Wm (ed), 1927, VCH Buckinghamshire Vol4 p414 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=62607#s4
    RCHME, 1913, An inventory of the historical monuments in Buckinghamshire Vol2 [north] p209 http://www.archive.org/details/inventoryofhisto02greauoft
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol1 p147
• Journal Articles
  • Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' Archaeological Journal Vol143 p316
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/buckseng.html#bucks9]
    Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p43, 289, 300
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol4 p115, 118 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryofjohnl04lelauoft