Berden; The Rookery

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Cumber Hills

In the civil parish of Berden.
In the historic county of Essex (Modern Authority of Essex, 1974 county of Essex).

Small ringwork Excavated by Knocker, finds included C12-C13 pottery. Surrounded by a U-shaped ditch, overall diameter c180ft, central area 72ft across. Ditch 5-6ft deep, filled with c2ft of wet silt. Finds also included a C12 pot in the make-up of the bank, a C13 pot in the central hearth. A map of 1602 shows the earthworks somewhat sketchily as a rectangle (with S P Plowden at Berden Hall?). On an RAF photo donated by Mrs Angela Colne, a note says 'The interior of this work is boggy and contains water. Destroyed by ploughing and the name 'The Rookery' is no longer used locally (1975). The field in which the earthwork stands was called 'Cumber Hills' in 1839. 1950 the moat was permanently dry for half its circumference on the south side. It is suggested that it was unfinished and that it predated the similar site at TL 46952895. By 1966 the site had been completely ploughed out. Excavation 1954 by G.M. Knocker on behalf of the DOE. Report TEAS NS 25, 258 suggests C12-C13 date on basis of finds.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Cropmarks/slight earthworks remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL46582919

PastScape number; 370263

Books

Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern) p23
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p143
Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
RCHME, 1916, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex. Vol1 [north-west] p26 No22

Journal Articles

King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
Knocker, G.M., 1958, 'The Rookery and ringwork at Berden, Essex' Transactions Essex Archaeological Society Vol25 p257-62

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Berden; The Rookery

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL46582919

Sources of information, references and further reading