Aston Cantlow, Stocking Banks

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Cantilupes

In the civil parish of Aston Cantlow.
In the historic county of Warwickshire (Modern Authority of Warwickshire, 1974 county of Warwickshire).

Earthwork remains of a ringwork castle and a double bailey, situated on the western outskirts of Aston Cantlow, with an earlier, Late Saxon ringwork. The ringwork is roughly circular in plan and enclosed by a bank and external ditch. The surface of the ringwork is uneven, indicating that buried features associated with the site's occupation will survive here. Part of the ringwork was excavated in 1932, exposing a foundation wall of local lias stone, and fragments of pottery and roofing tile were recovered. To the north of the ringwork is a rectangular bailey with rounded corners which is bounded by a bank and external ditch. A second, smaller bailey lies to the south east of the ringwork and is defined by a ditch and an external bank. Documentary sources indicate that the ringwork castle was constructed by the Cantilupe family and was inherited by the Hastings around 1273. By 1392, the castle, its barns and granges were in ruins.

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 SP13676000

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; 330927

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 1568

• Web site links
  • http://timetrail.warwickshire.gov.uk/detail.aspx?monuid=WA1568
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 1993, Midlands Castles (Birmingham) p28
    Salter, Mike, 1992, Castles and Moated Mansions of Warwickshire (Malvern) p15
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p481
    Salzman, L.F. (ed), 1945, VCH Warwickshire Vol3 p32
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
• Journal Articles
  • Chatwin, P.B., 1947-8, 'Castles in Warwickshire' Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society Vol67 p30-1