Chanstone South Tump, Vowchurch

In the civil parish of Vowchurch.
In the historic county of Herefordshire (Modern Authority of Herefordshire, 1974 county of Hereford and Worcester).

One of two tumps at Chanstone. This the second smaller motte is on the opposite side of the River dore and is about 40m in diameter and 1.2m above a slight ditch. Probably an unsuccessful attempt to build castle prior to building Chanstone, thought might be a later manorial site. Motte is damaged. Topographical and Geophysical survey done in 2002 inconclusive. However, PastScape records " A small moat, 40m in diameter with traces of a slight ditch. There are also traces of fishponds and building platforms, the latter both internally and externally. The fact that the water system would require damming of the adjacent river to operate, and that this would also flood the ditch of the motte on the opposite bank of the river indicates that the moat and motte formed a joint complex within the same curtilage."

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 SO36563580

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; 1384433

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 1536

• Web site links
  • http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/castles/castlesdata_az/chanstone.htm
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern) p20
    Shoesmith, Ron, 1996, Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press)
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p103 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p211 [No3]
    RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire. Vol1: south-west p245, plan at xxxv
• Journal Articles
  • Bradley, J. and Gaimster, M., 2003, 'Medieval Britain and Ireland in 2002' Medieval Archaelogy 47 p251-68
    Sterling Brown, R., 1988, 'Preliminary Results of Castle Survey' Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol50 p41
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124