Castle Homepage


Dist:0.2km<br/>Glastonbury Tor can be seen in the distance.
©Eugene Birchall
Dist:0.2km<br/>
©Sheila Russell
Dist:0.2km<br/>The drove follows the curve of the River Sheppey, just off to the right, circling Callow Hill on the left, with a field of maize.
©Derek Harper
Dist:0.3km<br/>
©Sarah Charlesworth
Dist:0.3km<br/>Fenny Castle is a motte and bailey castle set on a small natural hill. The north west end of the hill has been scarped into a steep-sided conical to form a motte, while the south east end has been levelled to create a narrow bailey. Digging in the castle unearthed a wall which defended the summit, as well as iron rings, an iron implement and pottery. In C19 it is recorded that part of the slope at the north west end of the hill was removed to enable easier access around it. In the process the remains of 20 skeletons, possibly of a period predating the construction of the castle, were removed. The river Sheppey can be seen in the foreground.
©Sharon Loxton
Dist:0.3km<br/>Passing Ashmoor and running beside the invisible River Sheppey (right), with roadside willows.
©Derek Harper
Dist:0.4km<br/>Many trees on the Somerset Levels have been pollarded; that is their lateral branches branches have been cut off two or three metres above ground level. The tradition of pollarding is to encourage the tree to produce new growth on a regular basis in order to maintain a supply of new wood for various purposes. It was often preferred to coppicing in grazed areas because animals would browse the regrowth from coppice stools. The tree stands beside the river Sheppey.
©Sharon Loxton
Dist:0.4km<br/>The River Sheppey originates in the Mendips and flows through the wetlands that lie to the north of the Polden Hills. The source is a group of springs to the west of the settlement of Doulting where water draining through the limestone of the Mendips appears. From Doulting the Sheppey flows southwest through the wetlands to the north of the Polden Hills. At Charlton parts of the rivers course have been culverted and the river flows beneath ground through Shepton Mallet. The river reappears at Darshill and its course continues southwest through Croscombe, Dinder, Woodford, Coxley. From Coxley the course of the river heads north through Hay Moor and North Moor, wetlands, supplied and drained by the river. The river continues west through Ash Moor, here the river course turns sharply to the south through Frogmore and west through Godney. At Lower Godney the river is channelled through the ‘James Wear River’ and the ‘Decoy Rhine’to Westhay Level where it joins ‘Whites River’ and then the River Brue. No part of the Sheppey is tidal. This section of the river Sheppey is just to the north of Fenny Castle.
©Sharon Loxton
Dist:0.5km<br/>The motte and bailey castle shown in [[668704]] is a little to the south of this building which offers bed and breakfast and bike hire. Access is across the River Sheppey in the foreground.
©Derek Harper
Dist:0.6km<br/>
©Sarah Charlesworth
Dist:0.6km<br/>Passing Patience Farm, with a fine stone and tile barn alongside the road.
©Derek Harper
Dist:0.7km<br/>The base of a medieval (C14) wayside cross beside Castle Lane. "Traditionally it is associated with a nearby well, and the remains of the wellhead may be seen in the undergrowth. It appears to be a water cross which are rare in Somerset" http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=24232 . The briefer listed building description is at http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-268172-roadside-cross-at-ngr-st-5084-4407-wooke .
©Derek Harper
Dist:0.7km<br/>The discharge of the river Sheppey is measured at this point.
©Sharon Loxton
Dist:0.7km<br/>View south across Crannel Moor from the minor road that runs from Polsham to Godney. In the background is Glastonbury Tor.
©Nigel Mykura
Dist:0.8km<br/>Yet another stream helping to manage the water on the Levels. Despite clearly flowing, the smoothness of the surface gave an excellent reflection.
©Graham Richards

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]

Members Nearby

Castle Discussion Forum


Places Near Castle

Bleadney • Brindham • Burcott • Callow Hill • Castle • Coxley • Coxley Wick • Easton • Godney • Haybridge • Henton • Holly Brook • Keward • Launcherley • Lower Godney • Lower Milton • New Town • New Town • Panborough • Polsham • Southway • Upper Croxley • Upper Godney • Wells • Westbury-sub-Mendip • Woodford • Wookey • Wookey Hole • Worth • Yarley •