Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk

230 Pages·1997·42.129 MB·English

by  Beric Morley, David Gurney

East Anglian Archaeology No.42, 1988 Essex: Archaeology and Environment in South Essex,
Rescue Archaeology along the Gray's By-pass
is a serial publication sponsored by the Scole Archaeological Committee. 1979-80
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Animal Husbandry
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No.3, 1977 Suffolk: various papers No.50, 1993 Proceedings of the Flatlands and Wetlands Conference
No.4, 1976 Norfolk: Late Saxon town ofThetford No.51, 1991 Norfolk: The Ruined and Disused Churches of Norfolk
No.5, 1977 Norfolk: various papers on Roman sites No.52, 1991 Norfolk: The Fenland Project No. 4, The Wissey
No.6, 1977 Norfolk: Spong Hill Anglo-Saxon cemetery Embayment and Fen Causeway
No.7, 1978 Norfolk: Bergh Apton Anglo-Saxon cemetery No.53, 1992 Norfolk: Excavations in Thetford, 1980-82, Fison Way
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No.lO, 1980 Norfolk: village sites in Launditch Hundred Survey, The South-West Fens
No.ll, 1981 Norfolk: Spong Hill, Part 11 No.56, 1992 Cambridgeshire: The Fenland Project No.6: The
No.l2, 1981 The barrows of East Anglia South-Western Cambridgeshire Fens
No.l3, 1981 Norwich: Eighteen centuries of pottery from Norwich No.57, 1993 Norfolk and Lincolnshire: Excavations at Redgate Hill
No.l4, 1982 Norfolk: various papers Hunstanton; and Tattershall Thorpe
No.l5, 1982 Norwich: Excavations in Norwich 1971-1978; Part I No.58, 1993 Norwich: Households: The Medieval and
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East Anglia Excavations 1971-1978
No.l7, 1983 Norwich: Waterfront excavations and Thetford-type No.59, 1993 Fenland: The South-West Fen Dyke Survey Project
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Industry of Grimston: Excavations 1962-92
site at Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe, Essex
No.65, 1993 Suffolk: Settlements on Hill-tops: Seven Prehistoric
No.26, 1985 Norwich: Excavations in Norwich 1971-78; Part 11
Sites inS uffolk
No.27, 1985 Cambridgeshire: The Fenland Project No.!:
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Archaeology and Environment in the Lower Welland
Survey, the Northern Fen-Edge
valley
No.67, 1994 Norfolk: The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Spong Hill,
No.28, 1985 Norwich: Excavations within the north-east bailey of
Norwich Castle, 1978 North Elmham, Part V: Catalogue of Cremations
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No.33, 1987 Essex: Excavation of a Cropmark Enclosure Complex Hullbridge Survey Project
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No.34, 1987 Norfolk: The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Spong Hill, No.73, 1995 Norfolk: The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Spong Hill,
North Elmharn, Part IV: Catalogue of Cremations North Elmharn, Part VII: Iron Age, Roman and Early
No.35, 1987 Cambridgeshire: The Fenland Project No.2: Fenland Saxon Settlement
Landscapes and Settlement between Peterborough and No.74, 1995 Norfolk: A Late Neolithic, Saxon and Medieval Site at
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No.36, 1987 Norfolk: The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at No.75, 1995 Essex: North Shoebury: Settlement and Economy in
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No.37, 1987 Norwich: Excavations at St Martin-at-Palace Plain, No.76, 1996 Nene Valley: Orton Hall Farm: A Roman and Early
Norwich, 1981 Anglo-Saxon Farmstead
No.38, 1987 Suffolk: The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Westgarth No.77, 1996 Norfolk: Barrow Excavations in Norfolk, 1984-88
Gardens, Bury St Edmunds: Catalogue No.78, 1996 Norfolk: The Fenland Project No.ll: The Wissey
No.39, 1988 Norfolk: The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Spong Hill, Embayment: Evidence for pre-Iron Age Occupation
North Elmham, Norfolk, Part VI: Occupation during No.79, 1996 Cambridgeshire: The Fenland Project No.! 0:
the 7th-2nd millennia BC Cambridgeshire Survey, the Isle of Ely and Wisbech
No.40, 1988 Suffolk: Burgh: The Iron Age and Roman Enclosure No.80, 1997 Norfolk: Barton Bendish and Caldecote: fieldwork in
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Romano-British small town in the Trinovantian Civitas No.81, 1997 Norfolk: Castle Rising Castle
EAST ANGLIAN ARCHAEOLOGY

Castle Rising
Castle, Norfolk
by Beric Morley and
David Gurney
with contributions from
Susanne Atkin, Matthew Canti,
John Cherry, H.E.M. Cool,
Elisabeth Crowfoot, Andrew Crowson,
B.M.A. Ellis, J.G. Evans, Prances Healy,
Michael Heyworth, R. T. J ones,
David King, Barry Knight,
Alison Locker, Sue Margeson,
Bill Milligan, Graham Morgan,
Terry O'Connor, A.R. Pipe, K. Reilly,
S.E. Rigold, Paul Rutledge,
Brian Spencer, D.F. Williams and
Val Williams
with illustrations by
Steven Ashley, Andrew Crowson,
Judith Dobie, David Fox, David Gurney
and Hoste Spalding
and photographs by
Derek A. Edwards, Beric Morley and
David Wicks
East Anglian Archaeology
Report No. 81, 1997
Field Archaeology Division
Norfolk Museums Service
EAST ANGLIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
REPORT NO. 81
Published by
Field Archaeology Division
Norfolk Museums Service
Union House
Gressenhall
Dereham
Norfolk NR20 4DR
in conjunction with
The Scole Archaeological Committee
Editor: Peter Wade-Martins
Managing Editor: Jenny Glazebrook
Scole Editorial Sub-committee:
David Buckley, County Archaeologist, Essex Planning Department
Keith Wade, County Archaeologist, Suffolk Planning Department
Peter Wade-Martins, County Field Archaeologist, Norfolk Museums Service
Stanley West
Set in Times Roman by Joan Daniells using ®Ventura Publisher
Printed by Geerings of Ashford Ltd., Ashford, Kent
©FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY DIVISION, NORFOLK MUSEUMS SERVICE
ISBN 0 905594 23 1
For details of East Anglian Archaeology, see inside front cover
This volume is published with the aid of a grant from English Heritage
Cover:
Aerial photograph of Castle Rising castle and village, looking north-west.
22 Sept 1987 (Ref. TF6624/ABY/DFH6). Photo: Derek A. Edwards
Contents
Contents v The yellow sand surface 34
List of Plates v1 Later floorings in the west of the nave 34
List of Figures vii The south doorway and the area outside it 38
List of Tables vm The brick floors 38
Contents of Microfiche vm The Tudor fireplace 38
List of Contributors ix
Acknowledgements x Chapter 5. The keep
Summary x
I. Construction 39
11. Levelling and dating 39
Chapter 1. Introduction Ill. Ancillary buildings 42
I. Setting and historical background 1 IV. Medieval features west of the keep 42
The status and planning of Castle Rising 1
The significance of the castle 3 Chapter 6. The defences
The castle unfinished 3
I. Introduction 46
Later history 4
11. The main ringwork 46
11. The excavations 4
The original bank 46
Methodology 5
The bank heightening 49
Ill. Geology and the natural in the excavated
The final capping of the bank 49
area 7
Ill. The western outwork 51
The ditch profile and fill 51
Chapter 2. Prehistoric and Roman evidence
The bank structure 52
I. Neolithic and Bronze Age material 9 The infill of the loop 52
11. Iron Age material 9
Ill. Roman period material and features 9
Chapter 7. The area south of the keep
I. Introduction 56
Chapter 3. Saxo-Norman and early medieval
11. The dating 56
features Ill. Period 0 56
I. Introduction 11 The timber-framed kitchen 56
11. Features pre-dating the early Norman The buildings of c. 1330 60
church 11 IV. Period 1 (soon after 1330) 64
Ill. Features pre-dating the keep 13 V. Period 2 (mid-14th century) 65
Horizon 1 13 The use of the timber kitchen 69
Horizon 2 14 The dating and context of the kitchen 70
Horizon 3 14 Associated features 70
Horizon 4 15 VI. Period 3 (early 15th century) 70
IV. Features south of and earlier than the VII. Period 4 (early 15th century to 1500) 71
keep in Area 12 17 The later years of Period 4 74
V. Early features below the 14th-century VIII. Period 5 (mid-16th century) 75
buildings south of the keep 20
Area 8 20
Chapter 8. Rebuilding south of the keep 78
Area 9 20
Area 10 23
n
Area11 Chapter 9. Demolition of the buildings south
VI. Other Saxo-Norman finds in the area 23 of the keep
I. The Period 3 kitchen 80
Chapter 4. The early Norman church 11. The Period 4 building 81
I. Introduction 24 Ill. The Period 5 kitchen area 81
11. General description 24 IV. The south and west ranges 81
Ill. The recent history of the church 24
IV. The modern excavations 24 Chapter 10. Post-medieval activity 83
V. The fabric of the church 24
VI. The archaeological evidence 27
Chapter 11. The artefacts (other than pottery)
The construction of the building 27
The bell pit and related features 28 I. Prehistoric and Roman 85
The benching 31 The struck flint, by Prances Healy 85
Floor surfaces 31 Roman coin, by the late S.E.Rigold 85
VII. The area south of the church 32 Roman building materials, by
VIII. The area north of the church 34 David Gurney with Graham Morgan 85
IX. The later history of the church 34 11. Saxo-Norman, medieval and later 85
V
The coins, jettons and tokens, by the late Introduction 123
S.E. Rigold 85 Phasing 123
The small finds, by Val Williams_ 87 Comparison of the large mammals 123
Introduction 87 Castle Rising Chase 128
Non-ferrous metal objects, with David King, Other mammals 128
Sue Margeson and Brian Spencer 87
Birds 129
Iron objects 93
Butchery (microfiche) 131
Bone objects 97
Fired clay objects 100 11. The fish bones, by Alison Locker 131
Stone objects 100 Ill. Land molluscs, by J.G. Evans 131
The clay pipes, by Susanne Atkin 101 iv. Marine molluscs, by Terry O'Connor 132
Vessel glass, by H.E.M. Cool 104
Window glass, by David King 106 Chapter 14. Discussion and Conclusions
Window leads and ties, by David King 106
I. Summaiy 133
Bricks and tiles 109
11. Discussion 133
The evidence of bell-founding and other
technological activities in the church, Activity pre-dating the castle 133
by Michael Heyworth 110 c. 1140-1243. The castle keep and
earth works 133
Chapter 12. The pottery 1243-1329. The Montalt ownership 135
I. Iron Age 112 1331-1358. Queen Isabella's occupancy 135
11. Roman 112 1358-1544. The Duchy of Cornwall 137
Ill. Saxo-Norman, medieval and later, Decay and demolition 138
by Bill Milligan 112 Future work 138
Introduction 112
The fabrics 112 Appendix I. The Ticket Office Site, 1987,
Group I 113 by David Gurney 139
Group 11 113 Appendix 11. Guide to the Archive,
Group Ill 117 by Andrew Crowson 143
Group IV 120 Appendix Ill. The Settlement Pattern of
Other sherds 120 Castle Rising,
Discussion 120 by Paul Rutledge 144
Chapter 13. Zoological evidence Bibliography 146
I. The animal bones, by R.T. I ones, Index, by Peter Gunn 149
K. Reilly and A.R. Pipe 123 Microfiche
List of Plates
Plate I Aerial photograph of the castle 2 Plate X Area 10: the kitchens 57
Plate 11 Trench 62: the structure pre-dating Plate XI The garderobe block of the west
the keep 18 range 61
Plate Ill Trench 69: Saxo-Norman gully 23 Plate XII The west end of the chapel 61
Plate IV Trench 33: the south-east corner of Plate XIII Trench 54: well and south wall of
the nave 25 the south range 63
Plate V The bell pit: stones forming the flue 28 Plate XIV The porch and south door of the
Plate VI The bell pit: the clay pad 29 Period 3 kitchen 71
Plate VII Trench 55: the kitchen waste pit 45 Plate XV Area 10: kitchens and Period 5
Plate VIII Trenches 29 and 34: the defences structures 76
west of the keep 46 Plate XVI Trenches 52 and 59: Period 5
Plate IX Trench 32: section through the ovens, mortar and floor 76
ditch of the western outwork 51 Plate XVII Map of Rising Chase 1588 145
vi
List of Figures
Fig.1 Location maps xii Fig.40 Profiles across the earthworks 47
Fig.2 Plan of the earth works and Fig.41 Location and profile of trenches
excavated areas Xll north of the church 48
Fig.3 Plan of areas and trenches 5 Fig.42 Plan of Trench 31, showing the
Fig.4 Conventions 6 bank-top walls 50
Fig.S Map of geology 6 Fig.43 Sections 31-32 showing final
Fig.6 Plan showing changes in natural 7 capping of the bank 50
Fig.7 Model profile of natural Fig.44 Plan and Sections 33-34 showing
stratification !:! the western uulwork ditch and bank 53
Fig.8 Plan of Roman features and finds 10 Fig.45 Plan and Section 35 showing the
Fig.9 Sections 1-3, showing Roman infill of the loop 54
gullies 10 Fig.46 Plan of Period 0 south of the keep 57
Fig.10 Plan of features pre-dating the Fig.47 Reconstructed section through the
church 12 early kitchen 58
Fig.11 Sections 4-6, showing pre-church Fig.48 The west range and chapel, drawn
features 13 in 1701 60
Fig.12 Plan of features pre-dating the Fig.49 Plan of Period 1 south of the keep 65
· keep, Horizon 1 14 Fig .50 Area 10 walls 66
Fig.13 Plan of features pre-dating the Fig.51 Area 10, Sections 36-37 67
. keep, Horizon 2 15 Fig.52 Area 10, Section 38 68
Fig.14 Plan of features pre-dating the Fig.53 Plan of Period 2 south of the keep 69
keep, Horizon 3 16 Fig.54 Plan of Period 3 south of the keep 72
Fig.15 Sections 7-8, showing Horizon 3 Fig.55 Reconstructed elevation of the
features 16 Period 3 kitchen chimney 73
Fig.16 Plan of features pre-dating the Fig.56 Plan of Period 4 south of the keep 74
keep, Horizon 4 17 Fig.57 Plan of Period 5 south of the keep 75
Fig.17 Plan and Sections 9-10, showing Fig.58 Non-ferrous dress fittings 86
the structure south of and earlier Fig.59 Non-ferrous chapes 87
than the keep 19 Fig.60 Non-ferrous fittings for wood or
Fig.18 Plan of early features below the leather 88
buildings south of the keep 21 Fig.61 Non-ferrous domestic objects 89
Fig.19 Sections 11, 13 and 14, showing Fig.62 Non-ferrous domestic objects 90
Saxo-Norman features 22 Fig.63 Non-ferrous domestic objects 91
Fig.20 Section 15, showing Saxo-Norman Fig.64 Other non-ferrous objects 92
gully 23 Fig.65 Iron dress fittings 93
Fig.21 Plan of church, bell pit and related Fig.66 Iron knives 94
features 25 Fig.67 Iron domestic objects 95
Fig.22 Reconstruction of the church 26 Fig.68 Iron keys and locks 95
Fig.23 Graffito on plaster of church wall 27 Fig.69 Iron military equipment 95
Fig.24 Plan and Sections 16-17 of the bell Fig.70 Iron spurs 96
pit 30 Fig.71 Other iron objects 97
Fig.25 Plan of the area within the tower 31 Fig.72 Iron shackles 98
Fig.26 Section 18, in the chancel 31 Fig.73 Bone tools and utensils 99
Fig.27 Plans of benching in the church 32 Fig.74 Bone handles 99
Fig.28 Plan of features south of the church 33 Fig.75 Dice and other objects of bone 100
Fig.29 Section 19, showing graves south Fig.76 Fired clay and stone objects 100
of the church 33 Fig.77 Stone mortar 102
Fig.30 Plan of features north of the church 33 Fig.78 Clay pipes 103
Fig.31 Sections 20-21 north of the church 35 Fig.79 Vessel glass 105
Fig.32 Plan of the church, showing sand Fig.80 Window glass 107
surface and features 36 Fig.81 Window glass 108
Fig.33 Plan of later surfaces in the chancel Fig.82 Lead cames 108
and south of the church 36 Fig.83 Waste cames 109
Fig.34 Section 22, showing surfaces south Fig.84 Bawsey tiles 110
of the church 37 Fig.85 Pottery Group I 114
Fig.35 Plan of trenches in the keep 40 Fig.86 Pottery Group I 115
Fig.36 · Sections 23-25 in the keep 40 Fig.87 Pottery Group 11 116
Fig.37 Plan of medieval features west of Fig.88 Pottery Group Ill 118
the keep 41 Fig.89 Pottery Group Ill 119
Fig.38 Section 26, west of the keep 43 Fig.90 Other pottery 121
Fig.39 Sections 27-30, west of the keep 44 Fig.91 Pig mandible ageing 126
Vll
Fig.92 Sheep/goat mandible ageing 127 Fig.98 Domestic fowl tarsometatarsi
Fig.93 Cow mandible ageing 127 lengths (microfiche)
Fig.94 Fallow deer butchery (microfiche) Fig.99 Reconstruction of lodgings
Fig.95 Domestic fowl humeri lengths buildings 134
(microfiche) Fig.100 Outline reconstructions of Periods
Fig.96 Domestic fowl ulnae lengths 0-5 south of the keep 136
(microfiche) Fig.101 1987 excavation: location plan 140
Fig.97 Domestic fowl femora lengths Fig.102 1987 excavation: excavation plan 141
(microfiche) Fig.l03 1987 excavation: Section 36 142
List of Tables
(all for Zoological evidence, Chapter 13) Table 4 Major species 126
Table 1 Fragments by phase and totals 123 Table 5 Smaller common species 129
Table 2 Species list 124 Table 6 Domestic birds 130
Table 3 Species list and numbers by phase 125 Tables 7-34 (microfiche)
Contents of Microfiche
Fig.94 Fallow deer butchery Table 18 Fallow deer antlers
Fig.95 Domestic fowl humeri lengths Table 19 Fallow deer measurements
Fig.96 Domestic fowl ulnae lengths Table 20 Dog bones
Fig.97 Domestic fowl femora lengths Table 21 Dog epiphysis fusion
Fig.98 Domestic fowl tarsometatarsi Table 22 Dog/cat measurements
lengths Table 23 Cat bones
Table 7 Cow, sheep/goat and pig numbers Table 24 Cat epiphysis fusion
Table 8 Cow, sheep/goat and pig mandibles Table 25 Rabbit bones
Table 9 Cow, sheep/goat, pig and fallow Table 26 Rabbit epiphysis fusion
deer meat weights Table 27 Hare bones
Table 10 Sheep/goat horncores Table 28 Hare epiphysis fusion
Table 11 Cattle mandible ageing Table 29 Fowl bones
Table 12 Sheep/goat mandible ageing Table 30 Fowllongbone fusion
Table 13 Pig mandible ageing Table 31 Goose bones
Table 14 Cow, sheep/goat and pig withers Table 32 Duck bones
heights Table 33 Fish bones
Table 15 Fallow deer numbers and bones Table 34 Molluscs
Table 16 Fallow deer epiphysis fusion Animal bones: butchery evidence by species
Table 17 Fallow deer mandible ageing
VIII