Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
On the same road, two miles south of the town, is Quatford, close to
the parish church of that name, where the road crosses a steep ridge
in deep, but probably modern, rock cutting. The ridge abuts upon the
Severn, in a bold rocky promontory about 70 feet high. Upon it is
thrown up a mound about 30 feet high, and mainly artificial. It is
circular, and about 60 feet diameter on the top, which has been much
cut about, probably for modern purposes. The sides are steep, about
three quarters to one in slope. This mound is divided from the root
of the promontory by a trench cut in the rock about 12 feet deep and
12 feet broad, which extends from cliff to cliff, and includes about
three-fourths of the mound. Outside this ditch and to the east of it
is an area of irregular figure, governed by the outline of the ground.
Its north and south sides are defended by a ditch, which to the south
is deep and wide. This probably included the east side, but is now
superseded by the hollow road. The area is not very large, and would
perhaps accommodate about two hundred men.
West of and beyond the road is the church, a building with some Norman
remains. It stands rather higher than the camp, and its churchyard
would, with a little care, have formed a part of and doubled the area
of the camp. Whether it ever did so it is difficult to say, probably
not. The ford, which gives part of its name to the village, is still in
use when the river is low. It crosses the Severn below the camp.
This camp is omitted in the ordnance map, and of the earthwork of Burf
Castle, placed a mile and a half to the west on that record, but one
side remains.
It may be observed that the character of the surface of the country
hereabouts is very favourable for the construction of these earthworks
with mounds. There are scores of natural rounded hillocks of red
sandstone that have an artificial aspect, and that, with a little
scarping, would be strong. There is one, especially, close east of
the road between Quatford and Dudmaston Park, that looks very like an
English earthwork, and wants nothing but a ditch to make it perfect.
Besides the earthworks above described are others in the district
which appear to be of the same type. Such are Castle Hill, nine miles
south-east from Bridgenorth, and the isolated knoll called “the Devil’s
Spittle Dish,” two miles south-east of Bewdley.
BRONLLYS TOWER, BRECKNOCKSHIRE.
Bronllys tower, on the left bank of the Llyfni, a tributary of the Wye,
is situate in the parish of the same name, close north of the town of
Talgarth, on the regular and ancient way between Hereford and Brecknock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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