Exeter Danes Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; New Castle

In the civil parish of Exeter. In the historic county of Devon (Modern Authority of Devon, 1974 county of Devon).

C12 ringwork was revealed by archaeological excavations in 1993 on the removal of an overlying embankment which revetted C19 reservoir. It consists of a steep sided circular ditch averaging 8m in width and 3.8m deep, with an external diameter of about 55m. The material from the ditch was cast into the interior to create a rampart of about 17m in diameter. There is an entrance to the south west. The castle may have been that recorded as built in 1136 when King Stephen besieged the Earl of Devon, Baldwin de Redvers in Rougemont Castle.

This site has been described as a;
Siege Work.

The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.

Cropmarks/slight earthworks remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX91989330

PastScape Defra ELS number; 448330

Books

Higham, Robert A., 1999, 'Castles, Fortified Houses and Fortified Towns in the Middle Ages' in Kain, R. and Ravenhill, W., Historical Atlas of South-West England (University of Exeter Press) p136-43
Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern) p61
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p120
Wall, C., 1906, in Page, Wm (ed), 'Ancient Earthworks' VCH Devon Vol1 p614
Jenkins, 1806, History and Description of the City of Exeter (Exeter) p359 and note
Shortt, n.d. [early C19], Collectanea Curiosa Antiqua Dumnonia (Exeter) p21-2

Journal Articles

Hope, I., 1994 - 5, 'Exeter - Danes Castle' Current Archaeology Vol141 p348-
Henderson, C.G., 1993-4, Castle Studies Group Newsletter No7 p19-21
Higham, R.A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol46 p142-9
King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
Vatchell, E.T., 1966, 'Exeter Castle; its background and history' Devonshire Association reports and transactions Vol98 p327-48
Renn, D.F., 1959, 'Mottes: a classification' Antiquity Vol33 p106-12 [listed as seigework]

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Exeter Danes Castle

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX91989330

Sources of information, references and further reading