Reconstruction of the hillfort phase from the information board.
Image credit: Forestry England/Historic England (14.8.2021)
Images
The northern outworks. Looking west along the edge of the Blackdown Hills towards Staple Hill, where I headed next.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
The northern outerworks. Looking west towards three of Somerset’s highpoints: Staple Hill on the left, Exmoor centre and the Quantock Hills right.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
The highest part of the fort, in the northern section. This would have been the site of the Norman motte or keep.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
The massive inner rampart of the southern section of the fort.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
Multiple southern ramparts.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
Multiple lines of ramparts of the southern part of the fort.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
Outermost rampart on the western side of the fort.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
Earthworks on the southwestern side of the fort.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.8.2021)
The interior of the fort with some of the later Norman fortifications. The Norman castle at the Northwestern end fell into ruin a long time ago and now there’s a farm occupying the site.
Image credit: A R Cane
View into the interior from the bank running alongside the road to the car park.
Image credit: A R Cane
The ramparts on the South Eastern side and the entrance/exit to the car park on the right.
Image credit: A R Cane
The view North across Somerset towards Taunton.
Image credit: A R Cane
The ramparts on the Northern side.
Image credit: A R Cane
The Iron Age ramparts that now butt up against the road to the car park.
Image credit: A R Cane
Articles
Visited 30.5.10.
When I say visited, perhaps I should have said ‘sort of’ visited. You will need an O/S map for this one although the site is sign posted off the ‘main’ lane onto a ‘minor’ lane. Follow the small lane up the hill and it leads you directly into a large free car park with a couple of information boards. Alongside this lane on the left as you drive to the car park is a bank/rampart. When you arrive at the car park there are several banks/ramparts which may – or may not – be part of the hillfort? This was my last stop at the end of a long day and Dafydd was fast asleep in the car so I didn’t want to wake him. Instead I had a quick look at the possible ramparts right next to the car park and read the information board which indicated there were many more such banks/ramparts a short walk away. There was information on various walks you could take around the site and parkland. It was very pretty here and I am sure you could spend an hour or two walking amongst the trees and banks. One to visit again when next in the area.
A slightly different version, from Ruth Tongue’s ‘Somerset Folklore’, and heard from a gardener in Corfe. The ‘Digital Digging’ website confirms that the site is known as ‘Castle Rache’ locally, with the topmost bit being ‘the Beacon’.
There was a vast treasure hidden on Castle Rach, and it was guarded by devils; but the men of Corfe were both valiant and poor and they determined to dig it up. They went to the priest and he promised to come with them, bringing some salt and holy water. The church bells were rung to drive away the devils and the digging began. It was highly successful. So vast a treasure did their spades uncover that one man swore in sheer surprise. At once the chest sank out of sight, the devils came back and every man, including the priest, died within a year.
Castle Neroche’s outer defences are thought to be Iron Age – later on a Norman castle was built here too. It is traditionally said to be hollow and bursting with treasure. Unsurprisingly there have been various attempts to find this legendary hoard.
The following was written by a Reverend F Warre in 1854 (’Proceedings v5’) and quoted by J&C Bord in their ‘Secret Country’. To his credit! he seems to welcome superstitious / unchristian? thought if it’ll protect ancient sites:
“About a hundred years ago a number of labouring men, urged on by the love of filthy lucre and not have the fear of archaeological societies before their eyes... with sacrilegious spade and pick axe violated the sanctity of this mysterious hill. But before they had found a single coin they were seized with a panic fear, renounced their presumptious enterprise, and wonderful and awful to relate, within one month of the commencement of their enterprise, some by accident, some by sudden death and some by violent fevers, all paid with their lives the penalty of their covetous and most presumptious attempt. Oh! that this most veracious legend were universally published as a warning to all wanton mutilators of ancient earthworks.”
Sites within 20km of Castle Neroche
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Devil’s Stone (Staple Fitzpaine)
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Robin Hood’s Butts North (Otterford)
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Robin Hood’s Butts South (Otterford)
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Yonder Cross Stone
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Simons Barrow
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Norton Camp (Somerset)
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Stockland Little Castle
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Membury Castle
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Cock-Crow Stone
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Stockland Great Castle
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Burrow Hill
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Dumpdon Hill
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Athelney
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Ruborough Camp
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Cothelstone Hill
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Lambert’s Castle
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