A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



MISCELLANEOUS EARTHWORKS 



(CLASS X) 



ECCLESHALL. The defensive earthworks here would seem to have 

 been a broad and deep moat, square in form, inclosing a quadrangular 

 area, whereon the castle stood with a strong stone retaining wall sup- 

 porting the isolated inclosure, with an arched bridge across the moat 



for the approach to the 

 castle. Much of the 

 retaining wall remains 

 and also a fine angle 

 tower of nine sides. 

 The bridge across the 

 moat seems to have been 

 central on the south side, 

 which would give a 

 length of 280 ft. east 

 and west for the build- 

 ing area, and 170 ft. 

 north and south. The 

 River Sow is in imme- 

 diate connexion with the 

 site. Recent dealing with 

 the grounds and sur- 

 rounding waters has 

 much modified the char- 

 acter of the earthwork. 

 The nearest altitude on 

 the Ordnance map is 

 300 ft. 



LICHFIELD. The close and city were fortified with fosse and wall and 

 towers as at Eccleshall. The lower part of the north-east tower still remains, 

 and the eastern fosse bounds the palace grounds, and remains of the northern 

 wall still exist in the palace and other gardens. 



KINVER : STOURTON. Here there are two lines of earthworks, one against 

 the road to the south of the castle running east and west and the other follow- 

 ing the line of the River Stour running north and south, but these may have 

 been occasioned by the construction of the road and as flood-banks against the 

 river. There are also slopes and banks to the south-east of the present house, 

 but there is nothing about them indicating that they are of ancient origin. 

 Stourton is said to have been fortified for the king at the commencement of 

 the Civil Wars. 



TYRLEY. This is at present the site of a farm-house, and there are no 

 definite remains of earthworks. 



Besides the foregoing there are other earthworks enumerated in the 

 following table, of which only a very general account can be given by reason 

 of their indefiniteness both as to their extent and character. 



37 



SCACE. OF FEE.T 

 100 200 aoo 



SECTIONS AB.C.D 



ECCLESHALL CASTLE 



