Tanworth

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; The Mount, Cheswick Green; Shirley

In the civil parish of Solihull.
In the historic county of Warwickshire (Modern Authority of Solihull, 1974 county of West Midlands).

Moat possibly C14-C15 in date. Observations in C19 found the moat comprising an oblong area encircled by a deep moat, with an internal rampart on the east. The moat was 18-20ft wide, and the rampart up to 60ft wide and 20ft high. Excavations in 1953 by the Ministry of Works recovered C12-C13 pottery indicated occupation of the site prior to construction of the moat. The moat was constructed no earlier than about 1300 and contained no internal structures. This absence has led to the interpretation that Mount was a military earthwork. Furthermore, the absence of any palisading, or a permanent bridge and gates, suggests that it was either erected hastily and abandoned, or was intended as a temporary stronghold. It is impossible to date the Mount closely and its original purpose remains. A surveyed in 1976 found the moat had been completely filled and half the earthwork destroyed. The remaining part was badly mutilated.

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 SP13007607

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; 331433