Downton on the Rock; The Tump

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castle Mount

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

Small motte with a base diameter of 23m and an average height of 3.5m, and is largely composed of stone rubble, which may be debris of stone tower. Around the west uphill side, is a slight ditch, 7m wide and up to 0.5m deep. Octagonal tower, signs of bailey & outer enclosures. It seems that Lords of Richards Castle, prob Mortimers, built here smaller version of their great octagonal keep at Richards Castle with addition of some sort of forebuilding on it, on ground level of very low motte. A stream, bordering site has been dammed to form 1 side of defences. Corner of outer enclosure has large masonry buried in tree roots. 2 old wells on site which has seen lot of activity in past making it difficult to read.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO427734

PastScape number; 108821

Web site links

http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/castles/castlesdata_az/downton.htm

Books

Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern) p26
Shoesmith, Ron, 1996, Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press)
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p205
RCHME, 1934, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire. Vol3: north-west p45
Chalkley Gould, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Hereford Vol1 p226

Journal Articles

Sterling Brown, R., 1988, 'Preliminary Results of Castle Survey' Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol50 p41
Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
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

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Downton on the Rock; The Tump

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO427734

Sources of information, references and further reading