Ballands Castle
Ballands Castle was a castle near the village of Penselwood, Somerset, England.
| Ballands Castle | |
|---|---|
| Penselwood, Somerset | |
  Ballands Castle | |
| Coordinates | 51.0778°N 2.3540°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference ST753310 |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks remain |
History
Balland Castle was a motte and bailey castle, probably built after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, near the village of Penselwood in Somerset.[1] The castle sits close to the contemporary Norman castles of Cockroad Wood and Castle Orchard, and may have been built as part of a system of fortifications to control the surrounding area.[1]
The motte of the castle is now around 5 m high, and up to 9 m wide.[2] The bailey lies to the south, and both the motte and the bailey are surrounded by ditches.[3]
Today the castle site is a scheduled monument.
Bibliography
- Creighton, Oliver Hamilton. (2005) Castles and Landscapes: Power, Community and Fortification in Medieval England. London: Equinox. ISBN 978-1-904768-67-8.
References
- Creighton, p.62.
- Balland's Castle, Penselwood, Somerset County Historic Environmental Record, accessed 18 July 2011.
- Creighton, p.62; Balland's Castle, Penselwood, Somerset County Historic Environmental Record, accessed 18 July 2011.
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