Clun , , SAM No.: 19179 Shropshire HER No.: 01198 NGR: SO 298 809

On 15th May 2008 a new interpretation panel was installed at Clun Castle, Clun, Shropshire (NGR SO 298 809). Clun Castle is a scheduled ancient monument as defined by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 ("Clun Castle: a motte and castle and formal garden earthworks", Monument No. 19179).

Clun Castle lies at the point of a sharp bend of the river Clun. The is sited on a high mound and there are inner and outer baileys stretching from the mound away from the river. A deep moat encircles the mound and the baileys. Clun Castle is mentioned in pipe rolls for 1160-64 and 1215 AD and in charters of 1140-50 and 1157. The site was probably fortified by Robert de Say who owned the land at Domesday. A small rising on the mound and fragments of a curtain wall may belong to this period; the wall towers were added later. The keep is of four storeys, two of them below the level of the top of the mound. Detailed analysis of the Great Tower by the City of Hereford Archaeology Unit concluded that it was of 13th century date, although with a deliberately Norman external appearance. It was suggested that it had been built as a suite of separate lodgings for the hunting guests of the Earl of Arundel towards the end of the 13th century. The castle was ruinous by 1539. (Shropshire HER)

In accordance with the scheduled monument consent for the installation of the new interpretation panel, an archaeological watching brief was maintained on the excavation of post-hole for the panel. The watching brief was carried out by the Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council, on behalf of English Heritage.

A single post-hole for the panel was excavated by hand to a depth of 600mm, with a diameter of 200mm. The post was cut through a homogenous soil of a dark reddish brown loam. No significant archaeological features were seen in the excavations.

HughHannaford June2008 Community Archaeologist Shropshire County Council

Archaeology Service Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, , SY1 2AQ Tel: (01743) 255352 Fax: (01743) 255355

Offa’s Dyke Path, Churchtown Wood, Middle Knuck, Nut Wood, and Rownal SCC Environmental Record (Sites & Monuments Record) Nos.: 01000, 08371, & 08372,

NGR: Churchtown Wood SO 263 872, Middle Knuck SO 260 863, Nut Wood SO 261 888, and Rownal SO 233 980

In January and February 2008 stiles and waymark posts were replaced on the Offa’s Dyke path at four locations on the line of the dyke in southwest Shropshire. These locations lay within sections of the dyke which are scheduled as ancient monuments as defined by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Churchtown Wood SO 263 872, National Monument No 32596 Middle Knuck SO 260 863, National Monument No 32597, Nut Wood SO 261 888, County Monument No. Salop 76, and Rownal SO 233 980, County Monument No. Salop 84).

In accordance with the scheduled monument consent for this work, an archaeological watching brief was maintained by the Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council, on the excavation of post-holes for the new stiles and fingerposts. At Churchtown Wood, Middle Knuck, and Nut Wood the excavations were all carried out by hand by the SCC Countryside Access Team; at Rownal a mechanical mini-excavator was employed by the contractors for Estates to excavate the gatepost-holes.

Churchtown Wood SO 263 872 National Monument No 32596; Offa’s Dyke: section 430m north east of Middle Knuck Farm

The work carried out here involved the replacement of a fingered waymark post and the installation of a pegged retaining board across the path to prevent down slope erosion from rainwater. The area affected lay on the western side of the projected line of the ditch on a steep slope down towards the hamlet of Churchtown. A single hole was excavated for the fingerpost 0.8m deep by 0.3m in diameter. Three holes were dug for the pegged board placed across the path. These were each 0.5m deep by 0.25m wide. The holes cut through a topsoil consisting of a dark greyish brown humic loam 0.2m deep which lay over the natural buff sandy clay with small stone fragments.

Middle Knuck SO 260 863 National Monument No 32597; Offa’s Dyke: section 400m east of Cwm Farm

At this site the work comprised the installation of a fingered waymark post. The new post was sited on the western side of the bank where the path crossed a fenceline. The hole for this post again was 0.8m deep with a

1 diameter of 0.4m, and was cut through a homogenous deposit over 0.8m deep of dark brown humic loam.

Nut Wood SO 261 888 County Monument No 76; Offa’s Dyke: section ½ mile (800m) long, SE from County boundary to River Unk

At this site a stile on a fenceline across the path was removed and replaced at a point 7m to the east, and a fingered waymark post installed adjacent to the stile. The new stile was located on the eastern edge of the projected line of the dyke’s bank. The two main postholes for the new stile were cut 0.85m deep by 0.4m diameter. The postholes were cut through a thin layer of clay loam topsoil 0.05m thick disturbed by recent forestry, which lay over a natural subsoil of light grey to buff sandy clay. The hole for the fingerpost was cut 0.8m deep by 0.3m in diameter. A number of fence posts were also replaced to the east of the new stile.

Rownal SO 233 980 County Monument No 84; Offa’s Dyke: section 2/3 mile (1170m) long, N from southern boundary of Rownal Covert

The work here involved the replacement of a wooden gate and gate posts on the site of an existing breach through the dyke. The gateway lay on the western edge of the line of the infilled ditch. Two postholes were excavated for the new gate 0.8m deep by 0.6m diameter, being cut through a brown loamy topsoil.

No significant archaeological features or deposits were seen in the excavations at any of the four sites.

Hugh Hannaford April 2008 Community Archaeologist Shropshire County Council

Archaeology Service Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ Tel: (01743) 255352 Fax: (01743) 255355

2 Churchtown Wood – old waymark Churchtown Wood – new waymark post and retaining board

Middle Knuck – before installation Middle Knuck – new waymark post

OFFA’S DYKE PATH 2008 Nut Wood – old stile Nut Wood – new stile and waymark post

Rownal – location of gate in breach on the dyke Rownal – the new gate being installed

OFFA’S DYKE PATH 2008