Details

Mowsbury Hill is located on the south eastern tip of a long spur of chalky
boulder clay to the north of Bedford and the Ouse valley. Archaeological
evidence gathered, to date, demonstrates that the hill has seen two major
phases of occupation - a univallate hillfort constructed in the Iron Age, and
a medieval moated site adapted from and sited within the earlier ramparts.
The existence of the hillfort was first clearly identified in 1971, although
fragments of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery had been reported from the
site since the turn of the century and some authorities had previously
suggested a prehistoric origin for the earthworks. Sample excavation in 1971-2
confirmed the presence of a large single ditch encircling the tip of the spur.
This measured approximately 4.3m wide and 2m deep and had been completely
infilled, incorporating material from the collapsed internal bank. Only a
slight scarp remains along the southern side of the hill to mark the position
of the bank, which had been supported by a timber framework of the Hollingbury
type. This feature had been destroyed by fire leaving clear impressions of the
timbers in the semi-fired clay which composed the bank. Pottery found in
association with the rampart indicates a date of construction in the early
Iron Age, and a limited period of occupation. With the addition of geophysical
evidence from within the copse in 1972, the complete outline of the perimeter
was established, forming a roughly oval plan measuring c.290m north west to
south east by 200m transversely.
The earthworks of the medieval settlement occupy the central and north western
part of the hillfort. These include a rectangular moated enclosure orientated
roughly east to west and measuring approximately 110m by 80m, the south
eastern quarter of which is taken up by a second moated island. The northern
arm of the larger enclosure is believed to have been adapted from the hillfort
ditch. The southern arm, within the interior of the former fort, is much more
substantial - measuring up to 15m in width and 2.5m deep and flanked by a
large external bank. The moats were supplied by a narrow leat which enters the
site from the north east corner. A second leat branches from the centre of the
northern arm and extends towards a pair of small fishponds located some 20m
from the north east corner of the main island. The inner pond is also thought
to have been sited within the line of the hillfort ditch.
The medieval site has been identified with the Manor of Morinsbury, mentioned
in various documents prior to 1465. The name may have been retained as
`Morsebury'- the title of a field owned by the Goswick family in the 16th
century which included the area of earthworks and presumably devolved to the
present name of Mowsbury Hill.
All fences and fenceposts are excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath these items is included.

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

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Slight univallate hillforts are defined as enclosures of various shapes,
generally between 1ha and 10ha in size, situated on or close to hilltops and
defined by a single line of earthworks, the scale of which is relatively
small. They date to between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (eighth -
fifth centuries BC), the majority being used for 150 to 200 years prior to
their abandonment or reconstruction. Slight univallate hillforts have
generally been interpreted as stock enclosures, redistribution centres, places
of refuge and permanent settlements. The earthworks generally include a
rampart, narrow level berm, external ditch and counterscarp bank, while access
to the interior is usually provided by two entrances comprising either simple
gaps in the earthwork or an inturned rampart. Postholes revealed by excavation
indicate the occasional presence of portal gateways while more elaborate
features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few
examples. Internal features included timber or stone round houses; large
storage pits and hearths; scattered postholes, stakeholes and gullies; and
square or rectangular buildings supported by four to six posts, often
represented by postholes, and interpreted as raised granaries. Slight
univallate hillforts are rare with around 150 examples recorded nationally.
Although on a national scale the number is low, in Devon they comprise one of
the major classes of hillfort. In other areas where the distribution is
relatively dense, for example, Wessex, Sussex, the Cotswolds and the
Chilterns, hillforts belonging to a number of different classes occur within
the same region. Examples are also recorded in eastern England, the Welsh
Marches, central and southern England. In view of the rarity of slight
univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the transition
between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities, all examples which survive
comparatively well and have potential for the recovery of further
archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.

Although the slight univallate hillfort at Mowsbury Hill has been somewhat
disturbed by medieval and modern activity, it remains one of the most
interesting examples of its kind in the region. The perimeter defences (partly
incorporated into the later medieval settlement) remain visible on the ground,
and sample excavation has demonstrated the existence of well preserved
deposits within the buried ditch and, most significantly, the rare survival of
evidence for the timber construction of the rampart. The fort's interior will
contain further buried remains, providing insights into the function of the
hillfort and, as within the bank and ditch, containing dateable material
illustrating period of construction and the duration of occupation.
The medieval moated site within the ramparts of hillfort is one of around
6,000 sites of this general type known in England. The wide ditches which
characterise this class of monument were often water-filled, partly or
completely enclosing one or more islands which contained domestic or religious
buildings. The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic or
seigneurial residences, with the moat acting as a status symbol rather than a
means of military defence. Moated sites reached a peak of popularity between
the mid 13th and 14th centuries with the greatest concentration of numbers in
the central and eastern parts of England. They exhibit a high level of
diversity in their forms and sizes, and are particulary important for the
understanding of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside.
The moated site at Mowsbury Hill is an extremely well preserved example of
this class of monument. Its largely undisturbed interior will retain buried
evidence for the structures and other feature related to the period of
occupation. The ditches will also contain valuable artefactual evidence
especially as the waterlogged silts provide conditions suitable for the
preservation of organic objects. The fishponds are a characteristic feature of
this class of the medieval settlement, used to maintain a sustainable food
supply. They are a significant component of the site, providing an indication
of both the diet and social standing of its inhabitants. The silts within the
ponds and the buried connected channels will contain further artefacts, and
(as with the main ditches) retain environmental evidence illustrating the
appearance of the surrounding landscape during the period of occupation.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Goddard, A R, The Victoria History of the County of Bedfordshire, (1904), 307
Rickards, V, Thunder, C, The Victoria History of the County of Bedfordshire, (1912), 212
Wadmore, B, The Earthworks of Bedfordshire, (1920), 221-3
Dring, G J, 'Beds Arch J' in Ravensden, Mowsbury Camp, , Vol. 7, (1972), 95
Dring, G J, 'Beds Arch J' in Iron Age Pottery from Mowsbury Camp, Ravensden, , Vol. 6, (1971), 68-9
Other
Beds C.C. earthwork plan (SME 332), Simco, A & Coleman, S, Mowsbury Hall, Ravensden, Bedfordshire, (1984)
Beds C.C. earthwork survey (SMR 332), Simco, A & Coleman, S, Mowsbury Hill, Ravensden, Bedfordshire, (1984)
discussion with County SMR officer, Coleman, S, Mowsbury Hill, (1996)
Geophysical Survey results, Clark, A J, Mowsbury, (1972)
MPP schedule entry 20458, Went, D, Someries Castle: Magnate's Residence & Formal Garden Remains, (1993)
MPP schedule entry 27106, Went, D, Bourn Hall, Motte & Bailey Castle & 17th century Formal Garden, (1994)
Simco, A & Coleman, S, Mowsbury Hill, Ravensden, Bedfordshire, 1985, Beds C.C. earthwork survey (SMR 332)
SMR 332, Mowsbury Hillfort and Moat,
Vertical monochrome, Aerofilms, R 10 7456, (1965)

Source: Historic England