Monument record TR 23 NW 2 - Castle Hill, Folkestone

Summary

This is referred to on some maps as ‘Caesar’s Camp’ and is on the edge of a Downland escarpment overlooking Folkestone. Its date of construction is uncertain but is considered to have been somewhere between the 1070s and the 1130s. There was another earlier Norman castle on the coast at Folkestone, close to a landing place. This became a casualty of coastal recession and no longer exists. General Pitt-Rivers archaeologically excavated the castle in 1878. In addition to medieval deposits he found a Roman ridge tile, considered a stray find. Others have excavated the site since and in 1988-9 pottery dating from 2500-1800 BC was found. It has been suggested that the Norman castle adapted a pre-Roman occupation site, possibly with defensive characteristics. Defensive trenches were cut into the castle during the Second World War.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 2141 3802 (304m by 297m) FCE
Map sheet TR23NW
Civil Parish FOLKESTONE, SHEPWAY, KENT
County KENT
District FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

<1> OS 25" 1959 (OS Card Reference). SKE48276.

<2> Arch 47 1883 429-65 plans illusts (A H L F Pitt-Rivers) (OS Card Reference). SKE34426.

<3> Victoria County History Kent 1 1908 415-18 plan (I C Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE51248.

<4> Archaeol Cant 63 1950 147 (H F Bing) (OS Card Reference). SKE37233.

<5> AM Eng & Wales 1961 59 (OS Card Reference). SKE33010.

<6> F1 FGA 06.05.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42892.

<7> F2 NKB 10.10.73 (OS Card Reference). SKE43351.

<8> Renn, DF, 1973. Norman Castles in Britain. (189-190) (OS Card Reference). SKE49158.

<9> Victoria County History 2 Kent 1926 236 (R C Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51247.

<10> Monastican (ed J Caley) Anglicanum 4 674 (Dugdale) (OS Card Reference). SKE47317.

<11> Castellarium Anglicanum 1 1983 231 (D J Cathcart King) (OS Card Reference). SKE38605.

<12> DOE(IAM) Record form 3 Nov 1986 (OS Card Reference). SKE41444.

<13> Archaeol Cant 10 1896 xliv-xlviii (W J Jeaffreson) (OS Card Reference). SKE37208.

<14> JBAA 1 3rd Series 1937 25-26 illus 33 (R W Murray) (OS Card Reference). SKE44855.

<15> Allcroft, A, 1908. Earthworks of England. (418 plan) (OS Card Reference). SKE32995.

<16> Brit Num J6 1909 187 (W J Andrew) (OS Card Reference). SKE38352.

<17> Bibliog Topg Brit 1 No 6 Pt 2 1780-1790 63 (OS Card Reference). SKE37653.

<18> Hist & Topo Surv of the Co of Kent 3 1778-99 377 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE43765.

<19> Field report for monument TR 23 NW 2 - May, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5587.

<20> Field report for monument TR 23 NW 2 - October, 1973 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5588.

<21> REV. ALAN GIBSON (Collection). SKE6494.

<22> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, CAT Annual Review 1988-9 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<23> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<24> 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY (Photograph). SKE363.

<25> PLAN OF CAESAR'S CAMP AT FOLKESTONE (Photograph). SKE1399.

<26> OBJECTS FOUND AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE (Photograph). SKE1401.

<27> CAESAR'S CAMP. DITCH OF OUTER BAILEY AT EAST, LOOKING SOUTH AT FOLKESTONE. (Photograph). SKE1410.

<28> 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL? - TR 223 380) Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY (Photograph). SKE182.

<29> PLAN OF CAESAR'S CAMP AT FOLKESTONE (Photograph). SKE1399.

<30> 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY (Photograph). SKE363.

<31> CAESAR'S CAMP. DITCH OF OUTER BAILEY AT EAST, LOOKING SOUTH AT FOLKESTONE. (Photograph). SKE1410.

<32> OBJECTS FOUND AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE (Photograph). SKE1401.

<33> SECTIONS OF EXCAVATIONS AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE (Photograph). SKE1400.

<34> 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY (Photograph). SKE364.

<35> 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL? - TR 223 380) Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY (Photograph). SKE182.

<36> 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY (Photograph). SKE364.

<37> SECTIONS OF EXCAVATIONS AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE (Photograph). SKE1400.

<38> RPS Clouston, 1994, Folkestone & Dover Water services: Bluehouse to Cherry Garden Trunk Main (Unpublished document). SKe6910.

<39> RPS Clouston, 1994, Folkestone & Dover Water services: Bluehouse to Cherry Garden Trunk Main (Unpublished document). SKE6910.

Sources/Archives (39)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: OS 25" 1959.
  • <2> OS Card Reference: Arch 47 1883 429-65 plans illusts (A H L F Pitt-Rivers).
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Victoria County History Kent 1 1908 415-18 plan (I C Gould).
  • <4>XY OS Card Reference: Archaeol Cant 63 1950 147 (H F Bing). [Mapped feature: #783 Medieval camp, ]
  • <5> OS Card Reference: AM Eng & Wales 1961 59.
  • <6> OS Card Reference: F1 FGA 06.05.64.
  • <7> OS Card Reference: F2 NKB 10.10.73.
  • <8> OS Card Reference: Renn, DF, 1973. Norman Castles in Britain. (189-190).
  • <9> OS Card Reference: Victoria County History 2 Kent 1926 236 (R C Fowler).
  • <10> OS Card Reference: Monastican (ed J Caley) Anglicanum 4 674 (Dugdale).
  • <11> OS Card Reference: Castellarium Anglicanum 1 1983 231 (D J Cathcart King).
  • <12> OS Card Reference: DOE(IAM) Record form 3 Nov 1986.
  • <13> OS Card Reference: Archaeol Cant 10 1896 xliv-xlviii (W J Jeaffreson).
  • <14> OS Card Reference: JBAA 1 3rd Series 1937 25-26 illus 33 (R W Murray).
  • <15> OS Card Reference: Allcroft, A, 1908. Earthworks of England. (418 plan).
  • <16> OS Card Reference: Brit Num J6 1909 187 (W J Andrew).
  • <17> OS Card Reference: Bibliog Topg Brit 1 No 6 Pt 2 1780-1790 63.
  • <18> OS Card Reference: Hist & Topo Surv of the Co of Kent 3 1778-99 377 (E Hasted).
  • <19> Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 23 NW 2 - May, 1964.
  • <20> Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 23 NW 2 - October, 1973.
  • <21> Collection: REV. ALAN GIBSON.
  • <22> Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. CAT Annual Review 1988-9.
  • <23> Scheduling record: English Heritage. Register of Scheduled Monuments.
  • <24> Photograph: 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY. BB74/04901. Black and White. Negative.
  • <25> Photograph: PLAN OF CAESAR'S CAMP AT FOLKESTONE. OS55/F105/3. Black and White. Negative.
  • <26> Photograph: OBJECTS FOUND AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE. OS55/F105/5. Black and White. Negative.
  • <27> Photograph: CAESAR'S CAMP. DITCH OF OUTER BAILEY AT EAST, LOOKING SOUTH AT FOLKESTONE.. OS55/F110/8. Black and White. Negative.
  • <28> Photograph: 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL? - TR 223 380) Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY. AO55/105/3. Black and White. Negative.
  • <29> Photograph: PLAN OF CAESAR'S CAMP AT FOLKESTONE. OS55/F105/3. Black and White. Negative.
  • <30> Photograph: 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY. BB74/04901. Black and White. Negative.
  • <31> Photograph: CAESAR'S CAMP. DITCH OF OUTER BAILEY AT EAST, LOOKING SOUTH AT FOLKESTONE.. OS55/F110/8. Black and White. Negative.
  • <32> Photograph: OBJECTS FOUND AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE. OS55/F105/5. Black and White. Negative.
  • <33> Photograph: SECTIONS OF EXCAVATIONS AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE. OS55/F105/4. Black and White. Negative.
  • <34> Photograph: 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY. BB75/02544. Colour. Negative.
  • <35> Photograph: 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL? - TR 223 380) Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY. AO55/105/3. Black and White. Negative.
  • <36> Photograph: 11/12TH CENT.(INCL. SUGARLOAF HILL?) SEE ALSO AO55/105/3 Types: MOTTE AND BAILEY. BB75/02544. Colour. Negative.
  • <37> Photograph: SECTIONS OF EXCAVATIONS AT CAESAR'S CAMP,FOLKESTONE. OS55/F105/4. Black and White. Negative.
  • <38> Unpublished document: RPS Clouston. 1994. Folkestone & Dover Water services: Bluehouse to Cherry Garden Trunk Main.
  • <39> Unpublished document: RPS Clouston. 1994. Folkestone & Dover Water services: Bluehouse to Cherry Garden Trunk Main.

Finds (6)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Intrusive Event: CAESAR'S CAMP,CASTLE HILL (Ref: EI 15147) (EKE4083)
  • Intrusive Event: CASTLE HILL (Ref: EI 36081) (EKE4445)
  • Intrusive Event: CASTLE HILL (Ref: EI 36082) (EKE4788)

Related Thematic Articles (1)

Record last edited

Mar 4 2022 1:28PM