Details

Quince Hill ringwork is defended by earthen banks and deep ditches. The main
defences consist of a ditch of `V'-shaped profile, about 10m deep and
20m wide, surrounding part of an enclosure 80m wide. On the uphill side of
the enclosure is a crescent-shaped bank which is about 15m high relative to
the bottom of the ditch and tall enough to give a clear view over the crest of
the hill. On the downhill side, the natural slope afforded some protection
and less massive defences may have been necessary. On this side any
earthworks have since been levelled but the line of the infilled surrounding
ditch can be observed as a slight break in slope of the hillside. The main
defences were further strengthened, on the uphill side, by an outer bank and
ditch. The ditch is between 8m and 12m wide and up to 3m deep and its bottom
is partially waterlogged. Within the ditch is a bank 2.5m high and there is a
small terrace, 60m long by 15m wide, between the outer bank and the inner
ditch. The entrance to the ringwork was on the north west side marked by a
causeway across the two ditches and by slight depressions in the banks.
The ringwork dates to the late Saxon or early Norman period but there is
evidence of Roman settlement in the vicinity. The name, `The Quinces', was
applied to the site in the 17th century and a 19th century edition of the O.S.
1 inch map shows the castle defences were then still visible as a complete
circuit.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Ringworks are medieval fortifications built and occupied from the late
Anglo-Saxon period to the later 12th century. They comprised a small defended
area containing buildings which was surrounded or partly surrounded by a
substantial ditch and a bank surmounted by a timber palisade or, rarely, a
stone wall. Occasionally a more lightly defended embanked enclosure, the
bailey, adjoined the ringwork. Ringworks acted as strongholds for military
operations and in some cases as defended aristocratic or manorial settlements.
They are rare nationally with only 200 recorded examples and less than 60
with baileys. As such, and as one of a limited number and very restricted
range of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fortifications, ringworks are of particular
significance to our understanding of the period.

The monument at Old Warden is a good example of a ringwork with upstanding
earthworks. Although partially altered the monument is considered to retain
high archaeological potential, particularly in the centre of the ringwork and
in the infilled ditch, which provides conditions likely to preserve organic
remains.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of : Volume III, (1912), 252
The Victoria History of the County of : Volume I270
The Victoria History of the County : Volume II15
Bigmore, P, Beds And Hunts Landscape, (1979), 41
Wadmore, B, The Earthworks of Bedfordshire, (1920), 117-9
'Beds Times' in Beds. Times, 10/01/1846, (1846)
'Bedfordshire Magazine' in Bedfordshire Magazine: Volume 8, (), 270
Other
Beds. CRO W2055, (1678)
Beds. CRO: W2593, (1605)
Simco, A., Beds. SMR record, (1978)
Title: Ordnance Survey 1" Series
Source Date: 1834
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Source: Historic England