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Somerset Historic Environment Record

24461

Site Name:	Hales Castle, E of Woodlands, Selwood
SCHEDULED MONUMENT:	Hales Castle: a ringwork and associated earthworks on Coles Hill [No:24021]
Civil Parish:	Selwood
Grid Ref:	ST 7976 4424 (ST 74 SE)
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Image:
	HER 24461 - Photo by Somerset County Council (15 June 1975)

Public access:

The public accessibility of this site is unknown or has not been checked. Please ask locally and do not visit without permission. [Information last updated on 21 May 2003]

Details:

A circular univallate enclosure under pasture. The bank rises 2.5m above the present bottom of the exterior ditch. A slight counterscarp is visible in places. There is no obvious entrance, though a disturbed area on the N side where the approach is steepest may be such. A causeway across the ditch on the SE side does not have a corresponding gap in the bank. The interior slopes down to the NW. A hollow, possibly a well, is present on the W side of the interior. Former field boundaries are present in the surrounding fields. {1}

Appears to be a ring motte with an apparently unfinished bailey on the N. {2}

A ringwork on the lower end of a gently sloping spur. Roughly circular enclosing 0.11 ha within univallate earthworks. The defences are greatest on the upper and lower stretches, relying more on the natural slopes along the sides. They consist of a bank 0.3 -1.2m high, a ditch below 0.2 - 1.6m deep (the ramparts overall being 1.6 -2.6m high) and a slight counterscarp. The bank and counterscarp have flattened tops. The interior is naturally higher than the surrounding land except on the uphill side. The entrance on the NW from downhill consists of a slight causeway and a gap in the bank. Just inside this to one side is a hollow with a spoil mound, perhaps the site of a well. Outside the ringwork is a system of field banks, scarps and ditches 0.1-0.4m high or deep. The scarping indicates ploughing at some time, perhaps the middle ages On the north they incorporate what is perhaps an unfinished bailey. Flint flake found in erosion scar on external face of rampart. {5}

Scheduling revised with new national number on 16.8.1994 (was Somerset 355). {6}

In generally good condition but with a little scrub growth and animal poaching evident. {7}

References:

Record created in October 1985

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