The Gatehouse website record for Hillesley Ringwork

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Very Croft; Berry Croft; Hawkesbury; Hillsley

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

Earthwork remains of a ringwork and possible Saxo-Norman fortified manor which has now been destroyed. The rampart was rebuilt between C12-C14. There are foundations of four possible buildings on the site. King writes this is an unlikely position for a castle (far too close to Bristol), but seems a typical location to me for a thegnal burh, in village by church, on a hilltop, controlling a crossroads.
Bruce Williams 1987 paper leave little doubt this was an Saxo-Norman manorial centre, with evidence that defences were strengthened, initially in the late C11 and again during the mid C12.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is ST76778960

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 205085
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.

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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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