Fenny Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Wells 2; North Moor; St Cuthbert Out

In the civil parish of Wookey.
In the historic county of Somerset (Modern Authority of Somerset, 1974 county of Somerset).

Motte and bailey castle set on a small natural hill. The north west end of the hill has been scarped into a steep-sided conical to form a motte, while the south east end has been levelled to create a narrow bailey. Digging in the castle unearthed a wall which defended the summit, as well as iron rings, an iron implement and pottery. In C19 it is recorded that part of the slope at the north west end of the hill was removed to enable easier access around it. In the process the remains of 20 skeletons, possibly of a period predating the construction of the castle, were removed.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle
Masonry 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 ST50784357

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 197243

Web site links

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=24455

Books

Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p68-109
Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern) p76
Dunning, Robert, 1995, Somerset Castles (Somerset Books) p58
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p445
Page, Wm. (ed), 1906, VCH Somerset Vol1 p529
Bothamley, 1911, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Somerset Vol2 p29
Holmes, n.d. c. 1880, History of the Parish and Maonr of Wookey (Bristol) p10

Journal Articles

Wicks, 1928, Wells Natural History and Archaeological Society Vol40 p41-4

Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)

Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p413
Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol1 p147
Harvey, J., 1969, William of Worcester Itinerarii p292-3

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