Ellesborough Cymbelines Mount

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Bellinus' Castle

In the civil parish of Ellesborough. In the historic county of Buckinghamshire (Modern Authority of Buckinghamshire, 1974 county of Buckinghamshire).

A motte and bailey situated on a small spur in Chequers Park; especially interesting on account of the small size of the baileys, and the natural strength of its position. The motte is circular, surrounded by a ditch, and has a small but strongly defended bailey on the SE, and a still smaller and considerably weaker bailey on the NE. There is no indication of an entrance (RCHME). The name seems to be romantically derived from the 'Kimble' place-name (5). Lipscomb however applies it to the 'Camp' on Pulpit Hill (SP 80 NW:9) Motte with two baileys as described above, the motte having a diameter of 42.0m, and a height of 6.0m, the larger bailey measuring 40.0m by 30.0m, and the smaller bailey, 50.0m by 25.0m. In good condition, under turf and light woodland. (PastScape)
Not an obvious manorial centre. Can be seen from the motte at Little Kimble, to which it has been suggested as a successor. In the Park associated with Chequers, which is post medieval, but there are medieval rabbit warrens in area.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP832063

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 344183
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 0002000000 '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://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/adv_reference.asp?imageUID=57788
    http://ubp.buckscc.gov.uk/ThemeDetails.aspx?UID=MBC70
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern) p35
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p27
    RCHME, 1912, An inventory of the historical monuments in Buckinghamshire Vol1 [south] p139 [plan] http://www.archive.org/details/inventoryofhisto01greauoft
    Page, Wm (ed), 1908, VCH Buckinghamshire Vol2 p28, 331 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=62782
    Allcroft, A. Hadrian, 1908, Earthwork of England (London) p411-13 http://www.archive.org/details/earthworkofengla00allc
• Journal Articles
  • Renn, D.F., 1959, 'Mottes: a classification' Antiquity Vol33 p106-12 [listed as successor to Little Kimble]
    Mawer, A. and Stenton, F.M., 1925 The place-names of Buckinghamshire Vol2 p163-4
    Burgess, B., 1858, Records of Buckinghamshire Vol1 p141 [unimportant]