Castle Batch
{{Short description|Fortification in Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Castle Batch
|location = Somerset, England
|coordinates = {{coord|51.3688|-2.9182|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|image = 250px
|caption = Site of Castle Batch
|map_type = Somerset
|map_size = 200
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Shown within Somerset
|type = Motte, possible motte and bailey or ringwork
|materials =
|height =
|condition = Only earthworks remain
|ownership =
|open_to_public = Yes
|battles =
|events =
}}
Castle Batch was a fortification at Worle that once stood overlooking the town of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, England.
Details
Castle Batch was a motte constructed by the Norman lord Walter of Douai between the Norman conquest of England in 1066 and 1086.{{cite web|title=Castle Batch|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/rsm/22837.pdf|work=Extract from English Heritage's Record of Scheduled Monuments|publisher=Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|accessdate=9 January 2013}}; {{cite book|last=Prior|first=Stuart|title=The Norman Art of War: a Few Well-Positioned Castles|year=2006|publisher=Tempus|location=Stroud, UK|isbn=0752436511|page=71}} It was built on a ridge above the surrounding area, with a mound that is now {{convert|3|m}} high and {{convert|42|m}} across, surrounded by a ditch up to {{convert|10|m}} wide. The entrance was probably on the north side of the motte. A possible bailey has been identified alongside the motte.{{cite web|url=http://www.ycccart.co.uk/index_htm_files/CASTLE%20BATCH%20Y9%20final.pdf|title=YCCCART 2011 / Y9: North Somerset HER 2011/205, Castle Batch, Worle |publisher=Yatton, Congresbury, Claverham and Cleeve Archaeological Research Team|accessdate=9 January 2013}} Although typically characterised as a motte, the mound has a slight indentation in the centre and archaeologist Stuart Prior considers the mound to have been a ringwork.{{cite book|last=Prior|first=Stuart|title=The Norman Art of War: a Few Well-Positioned Castles|year=2006|publisher=Tempus|location=Stroud, UK|isbn=0752436511|page=71}}; {{cite web|title=Castle Batch|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/rsm/22837.pdf|work=Extract from English Heritage's Record of Scheduled Monuments|publisher=Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|accessdate=9 January 2013}}
Around 1200 the estate belonged to William De Courtney and by 1303 by John de Beauchamp.{{cite book|last=Dunning|first=Robert|title=Somerset Castles|year=1995|publisher=Somerset Books|location=Tiverton, UK|isbn=978-0-86183-278-1|pages=31–32}}
In the 21st century the site forms part of local parkland, and is protected by law as a scheduled monument.