Castle Combe Castle
Unsurprisingly, the village of Castle Combe in Wiltshire owes part of its name to an unsual motte and bailey castle situated on a spur of limestone close to the village. Although no excavation has taken place at the site, it is generally thought that most of the earthworks and masonry date to the 'anarchy period' of the twelfth century.
Initially, we surveyed the site in order to create a digital terrain
model that could be used for analysis and display in Castle Combe
Museum. Surveying conditions were tough - most of the site is wooded
and many areas have dense blackthorn thickets, in addition, warm
weather brings tick infestations.
In 2005, Cotswold Archaeology (CA report as a PDF) were commissioned to carry out
controlled clearance within the remains of a substantial masonry
structure, the remains of the keep. This was soon followed by repairs
and stabilisation with 'soft capping' of the walls.
Following on from the consolidation work, we were commissioned to carry
out geophysical investigations in 2007. The survey techniques included,
magnetometry, resistivity and magnetic susceptibility survey. The
results of the resistivity survey revealed a number of masonry
structures within the inner baileys. Magnetometry in the outer bailey
produced little evidence for development although an infilled
substantial outer defensive ditch was revealed to the north of the
castle.
The site is unusual in having a keep with at least four and possibly five baileys. It has been suggested that a former earthwork such as an Iron Age fortification has been utilised by the Norman barons of Castle Combe although there is no strong archaeological evidence to support this. Our survey does suggest, however, several phases of expansion perhaps occurring within a relatively short period followed by complete abandonment within the medieval period.