SLHS Temple Hill

History

Gatehouse Gazeteer puts these ideas forward..

1. “The location, next to a later high status house, does mean this mainly natural hill could have been used as a motte by a precursor medieval manor house although the actually evidence - which is mainly a C18 reference to a Castle Hill place-name - is weak. If a medieval castle then later mansion would occupy the site of the bailey making a castle of considerable size.
   

2. Temple Hill or Castle Hill. Mound associated with a C19 landscape park, it has been suggested that it may originally have been a motte. Not near Church but by DMV of Welcombe. Temple Hill is a large isolated mainly natural mound, with a flattened top and a spiral path up to it. In its present form it is obviously a landscape feature connected with the 1869 Welcombe mansion; but it is an ideal motte (though the landscaping has destroyed any definite evidence) and its actually being such is borne out by the fact that -
   

1. 1.Its traditional name is 'Castle Hill, (Jorden).
   

2. 2.Welcombe Estate was the chief manor of Old Stratford in surveys of c1182 and 1252; also the mound is only half a mile from the Domesday Manor of Clopton. (VCH)
   

3. 3.In 1792 labourers found on the summit, some 14" below the surface, many human bones (including a whole skeleton with a small piece of iron weapon in the skull) and an 'ancient weapon' (evidently some sort of pike, see illus.) (Gentleman's Magazine) (PastScape – the reference source seems to be G.Stanhope-Lovell, S/S, 16.11.66)
   

4. Mr. Dufty suggests that the weapon is a late 16th - early 17th c. linstock (examples in Skelton's 'Engraved Illust. of Ancient Arms & Armour' Vol. 2, 1830, plates LXXXVI and CXIV, and elsewhere), but it seems equally to resemble a 15th c. 'Korseke' pole-arm (examples in 'Tables of Ancient Arms', Metropolitan Museum, New York). The finds therefore are unlikely to have any bearing on the mound as an artificial feature, except as giving a terminus ante quem. (PastScape - ref. oral information)”

SLHS Picture & Document Archives..

1. Plenty of pictures of, leading to and around: Temple Hill

Within the grounds of Welcombe Hotel   Location:  SP2088956640

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Stratford Borough Map, 1904

From:  Gatehouse Site 3554

Possible Castle

Stratford OS Map, 1998     Hover over for Lidar  (if using a mobile for Lidar click here                           )

Further Insight

Heritage Gateway suggests further..

“A mound situated within the grounds of Welcombe House. The mound has a flattened top and a spiral path which leads to the summit. It has been landscaped as a garden feature, probably during the 19th century, but it has been suggested that it may originally have been a motte. In 1792 human bone including a complete skeleton and a pike were recovered from the mound.”

More Modern Survey

Our Warwickshire documents..

1. “Temple Hill is a large isolated mainly natural mound, with a flattened top and a spiral path up to it. In its present form it is obviously a landscape feature connected with the 1869 Welcombe mansion; but it is an ideal motte (though the landscaping has destroyed any definite evidence) and its actually being such is borne out by the fact that – 1. its traditional name is ‘Castle Hill, 2. Welcombe Estate was the chief manor of Old Stratford in surveys of c1182 and 1252,
   

2. Environment Agency LIDAR imagery in 2008 does not conclusively prove the case for a castle either way. However, if it were a castle there are subtle earthworks on the north-east side of the ‘motte’ which could be interpreted as a small bailey.”
   

This is MWA1015 and the finds are listed under PRN1016.

OW: Site Of Possible Castle On Temple Hill

Timetrail Warwickshire: Possible castle On Temple Hill

From:

Other Theories

Whilst the Welcombe Hotel themselves postulate that their Y-shapes gullies

1. “are formed by the action of water in a geographical fault”
   

Others consider that the gullies are a man-made shallow route to move up and north across the Welcombe Hills.

The natural outcrop identified as ‘Temple Hill’ (right) would be an ideal location to build a castle to protect an early crossing of the river at Tiddington. See Tiddington Ford.

Why Might there Be Earthworks Here ?

There remains a lot of controversy regarding this remarkably large, high up, steep-sided mound (see below left). It is known that there were few fording points across the River Avon in winter. At a point on the river closest to here there was indeed a ford where now stands a footbridge in the Avon Caravan Park (see below and Tiddington Ford).

Temple Hill seen from the rear of Welcombe Hotel  November 2024

Steep-sided narrow road forming the only route up to the Welcombe Hotel    November 2024

There may even be a prepared shallow route for horses to climb up to a small settlement, known as Welcombe Village now lost, and/or onwards up the side of Welcombe Hill. Indeed the Lidar image (hover over image right) bears this out strongly. However this is merely circumstantial evidence.

Disused ford

Gulley

Was There A Mediaeval Bailey On Temple Hill ?

It is not known why the mound got its name. There is no evidence of any brick built folly, bellevue or place of worship can be seen here. However this location would certainly be a perfect place to guard the village and the route from the river from marauders.

With permission of the Hotel Manager anyone may visit the site. It certainly does have a spiral path to the summit which may be modern. It certainly does have a circular shape and a very good view for miles around.

Could Soldiers Have Been Stationed Here ?

If so they might need provisions and drinking water. It is known that there are many springs in the area, which is probably why Blue Cap Covert was located not far away, and several damp streams were found on the East side of the mound (see Picture Archive below). However, because they are so well guided down to the pond, half way down, it is highly likely that they and the pond are artificial (although no evidence of a pump house is to be seen).

Artifacts Found

Apparently remains of a pike and sharp weapons have been found but currently any conclusion is conjecture as no Archaeologist will categorically say yes this was a castle.

Let’s look at what else has been said..