Woodgarston, Wootton St Lawrence

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Woodcastle; Monk Sherborne; Castle of the Wood; Castrum de Silva

In the civil parish of Wootton St Lawrence.
In the historic county of Hampshire (Modern Authority of Hampshire, 1974 county of Hampshire).

Ring motte at Woodgarston, features include a well and keep. There are also documentary references to a chapel. The earthwork is circular and 43yds in diameter. The rampart stands 8ft above the area and 19ft above the bottom of the ditch. There is no bank on the counterscarp. Interior of the motte is raised above general level and includes possible site of building. Disused well within the keep covered by iron and timber posts. Suggested as the "Castle of the Wood" stormed in 1147 (see Woodchester)

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU58455507

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; 236491

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 20940

• Web site links
  • http://www.hants.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/entries/v02p358e01.html
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern) p61
    Barron, W.G., 1985, The Castles of Hampshire and Isle of Wight (Paul Cave) p55
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p191
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Williams-Freeman, J.P.,1915, An Introduction to Field Archaeology as Illustrated by Hampshire (London) p73-4, 420
• Journal Articles
  • Hughes, Michael, 1989, 'Hampshire Castles and the Landscape 1066-1216' Landscape History Vol2 p27-60
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Grundy, 1926, Archaeologia Vol81 p101
    Bigg-Wither, R.F., 1898-1903, 'On the manor of Woodgarston and some documents relating thereto' Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society Vol4 p241-52