Cholsey Grange

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Cholsey Castle

In the civil parish of Cholsey.
In the historic county of Berkshire (Modern Authority of Oxfordshire, 1974 county of Oxfordshire).

David Nash Ford writes "Near Cholsey Church are some ancient earthworks believed to be the remains of a Norman siege-castle. It would have been one of those built by King Stephen to harass to the Empress Matilda who was opposing his claim to the throne from nearby Wallingford Castle. Being on Reading Abbey lands, it may have been the castle, mistakenly called Reading Castle, that was destroyed by the Empress' son in 1153. Alternatively, it may have fallen two years earlier and been replaced by the fortification at South Moreton." PastScape report as "Site of Medieval moated grange and abbot's house, attached to Reading Abbey, represented by earthworks." The VCH mentions the moat near the church and gives some history of the abbot's house but does not draw the conclusion that the moat is the site of this house, although this seems entirely likely, nor does it mention any possibility of this being a siege work, which seems a rather less likely suggestion although not one that can be dismissed.

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

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU58448686

PastScape number; 237538

Web site links

http://www.britannia.com/history/berks/cholcast.html
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/cholsey_cast.html

Books

Knowles, David and Hadcock, R. Neville, 1953, Medieval religious houses in England and Wales (Longman) p63
Page, Wm and Ditchfield, P.H. (eds), 1923, VCH Berkshire Vol3 p297 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43220

Journal Articles

1908, Berkshire Archaeological Journal Vol14 p42-3

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Cholsey Grange

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU58448686

Sources of information, references and further reading