Hurst Castle, Bradley Wood

In the civil parish of Bradley.
In the historic county of Hampshire (Modern Authority of Hampshire, 1974 county of Hampshire).

Earthwork entrenchment of an irregular hooked shape, which, if continued to form a loop, would make an oval about 50 yards (45m) by 20 yards (18.28m). At the NE end the bank is splayed out into a rather irregular circular mound c. 40 feet (12.19m) across. From the mound, the bank and ditch run down to the SW for c. 40 yards (36.5,) and then, curving round, dies out at the side of an old chalk pit. Impossible to say from the appearance of the earthwork what date and function but looks like an uncompleted attempt at a Norman Castle. According to tradition, Bradley Wood contained the site of a castle called Hurst Castle. The claim that brick and flint have been found here presents a problem as brick was not used until the later Medieval period suggesting this is not a ringwork.

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

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU64484125

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 240224

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 20350

• Web site links
  • http://www.hants.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/entries/v02p053e03.html
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern) p38
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p196 [possible]
    Williams-Freeman, J.P.,1915, An Introduction to Field Archaeology as Illustrated by Hampshire (London) p358-9
    Page, Wm (ed), 1911, VCH, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Vol4 p202
• Journal Articles
  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127