Wootton Wawen

In the civil parish of Wootton Wawen.
In the historic county of Warwickshire (Modern Authority of Warwickshire, 1974 county of Warwickshire).

Fieldwork 200m south of St Peter's Church located a small motte and bailey castle which was later enlarged to form a rectangular manorial enclosure which was enclosed on three sides by a pond. St Peter's Church was a Saxon minster. There was also a Benedictine priory founded in late C11 in Wootton Wawen. A castle seems a likely possibility in this high status manor. The site has alternatively been sugested as an ice house or post medieval fishpond. An area of relict features, many in a very good state of preservation. Chief among them is what appears to have been a very small motte and bailey castle. This sat at the front of a gently sloping promontory between the River Alne and a tributary, taking advantage of a long steep bluff along the W edge of the Alne's flood plain. Most of the motte has survived, as has the N part of its ditch. The rest of the ditch was infilled in the Medieval period when the bailey was greatly enlarged to form a rectangular enclosure. This was defended by a bank and ditch to the N and a large bank to the E, S and W. An extensive three-armed pond surrounds the manorial complex on three sides. Within the enclosure there appear to be a number of faint platforms. The chronology of these features is not fully clear.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP153630

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; 871073

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 4533

• Web site links
  • http://timetrail.warwickshire.gov.uk/detail.aspx?monuid=WA4533
• Books
  • Bassett S R, 1984, The Wootton Wawen Project
• Journal Articles
  • 1984, West Midlands Archaeology Vol27 p72