Worksop Castle Hill

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Wyrkesoppe

In the civil parish of Worksop. In the historic county of Nottinghamshire (Modern Authority of Nottinghamshire, 1974 county of Nottinghamshire).

PastScape record reads "Alleged medieval castle, consisting of a ditch which cuts off a promontory, upon which is a flat mound. Despite extensive research it has not been possible to confirm the site as a motte, though it could be an adulterine castle." Speight regards this as a certain castle of early C12 date, a strong ringwork, built by William de Lovetot, which had a long life. Leland wrote the Castle was "deane downe and scant knowen wher it was." "The stones of the Castel" he adds, "were fetchid, as sum say, to make the fair lodge in Wyrkesoppe Parke, not yet finished :" but he observes, "I am of opinion that the Chanons had the ruins of the Castil stones to make the closure of their large waulles."

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SK58307883

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 318341
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.

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_midlands/120/worksopcastle.htm
    http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/white1875/worksop_historyp1.htm
    http://www.thorotonsociety.org.uk/gateway/places/castles/castles1.htm
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/worksop.html
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern) p96
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p381
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Page, Wm (ed), 1906, VCH Nottinghamshire Vol1 p293
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p225
    Holland, j., 1826, The History, Antiquites, and Description of the Town and Parish of Worksop, in the County of Nottingham (Sheffield: Blackwell)
• Journal Articles
  • Speight, Sarah, 1995, 'Four More Early Medieval 'Castles' Sites in Nottinghamshire' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol99 p66-8, 69 [Reconstruction]
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p350
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol4 p17 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryofjohnl04lelauoft