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Historic Environment Record

Due to staff shortages there will be no Historic Environment Record (HER) Service from the 3rd to the 24th of September 2010.

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Please e-mail sophie.unger@surreycc.gov.uk and your enquiry will be dealt with as soon as possible after the 24th of September 2010.

HER 873 - "Thunderfield Castle" medieval ring and bailey castle

Scheduled Monument
Thunderfield Castle, a Ring and Bailey castle generally well preserved, though the entire site is lower grown with trees and undergrowth. Thunderfield Castle is thought to be an early 12th century foundation and was of timber construction there being no traces of masonry. It was a ring type castle abandoned early probably due to flooding of the ditches by the River Mole. The barbican, of later date than the castle, is of a higher level and can be mistaken for a motte. The ditches were originally dry, an outer ditch, dug early in the 13th century formed a small outer bailey beyond the barbican. Excavations in the centre area by Hart and Winbolt in 1936, uncovered the hearth of a bloomery, and 13th, 14th and 15th century pottery was found nearby. No trace of buildings was found. The castle may have been erected by Gilbert de Clare (died 1132).

Monument Information
Record TypeMonument
Scheduled Monument Number12785
ConditionFair
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Data represented on the interactive map is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features. Further information

Location
Grid ReferenceTQ 300 425
ParishHorley
Parish (old)Horne Det
DistrictReigate & Banstead, Surrey
Map SquareTQ34SW
Type and Period
Evidence TypeMonument TypeDate Range:
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
EARTHWORK
SUB SURFACE DEPOSIT
BLOOMERY
CASTLE
MOAT
RINGWORK
Medieval
12th Century
13th Century
Medieval 1066-1540

Related Records

Source
DetailsVolumeHolding InformationPublisher InformationPages
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/37
45Surrey HER1 part146-50, 1, 209
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/1903
18Surrey HER1 part146-50, 1, 209
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/90
80Surrey HER1 part146-50, 1, 209
Ref: Victoria County History of Surrey
Ref: 31/12/1912
4Surrey HER1 part146-50, 1, 209
Ref: Antiquities and Conservation Areas of Surrey
Ref: 31/12/76
Ref: Sixth Edition
Surrey HER1 part146-50, 1, 209

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About this record

This is the record of an archaeological site, find, a historic building or a park and garden from Surrey’s Historic Environment Record (HER).

The HER is the most up-to-date and comprehensive record of known archaeology within Surrey, and a great starting point for research into any aspect of the historic environment of Surrey.

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