Chisley Mount, Down End

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Chidley Mount; Bally Field; Downend

In the civil parish of Puriton. In the historic county of Somerset (Modern Authority of Somerset, 1974 county of Somerset).

Earthwork remains of a Motte, and inner and outer baileys, on Chisley Mount or Chidley Mount (now called Bally Field). The earthworks consist of a motte and two baileys on its northern side. The motte has been formed by scarping the western end of a natural ridge where it terminates on low, level ground. Its eastern side, in private gardens, is poorly defined and several pits have been dug into the top. The single bank of the inner bailey, and the twin banks of the outer bailey, have been constructed on level ground, not by scarping the slope. There banks end abruptly on the west. Excavations in 1908 recovered Norman and later pottery and iron objects. King writes these are slag heaps. Although not near Puriton Church could be a manorial centre with hamlet of Down End representing incipient township. Prior (2007) suggests that the castle utilizes earthworks of possible Viking origin.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is ST30924135

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 192333
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 11447 '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.

• Web site links
  • http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=11447
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/chisley.html
• Books
  • Prior, S.J., 2007, 'Strategy, symbolism and the downright unusual: the archaeology of three Somerset castles' in M. Costen (ed), People and places: essays in honour of Mick Aston (Oxford: Oxbow Books) p76-89
    Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p68-109
    Dunning, Robert, 1995, Somerset Castles (Somerset Books) p37
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p446 [reject]
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Beresford, Maurice, 1967, New towns of the Middle Ages: town plantation in England, Wales and Gascony (New York) p483-4
    Burrow, Edward J., 1924, Ancient Earthworks and Camps of Somerset (Cheltenham and London) p124-5
    Bothamley, 1911, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Somerset Vol2 p518-19
    Page, Wm. (ed), 1906, VCH Somerset Vol1 p360
    Elton, C.I. (ed), Custumaria of Glastonbury (Somerset Record Soc. v) p4
• Journal Articles
  • Chater, A.G., Albany, F., 1909, 'Excavations at Downend' Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol55 p162-174
    Dymock, C.W., 1877, 'Megalithic antiquities at Stanton Drew' Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol23 p35
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Prior, S, 1999, "An Earthwork Survey of a Motte and Bailey Castle at Downend, Puriton, Sedgemoor"
    BM Skinner mss 33716 folio 105
    Bodlian museum Aubrey mss 15 folio 122