Summary The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a ringwork dating probably to the early C13 and adapted to a fortified manor house in the mid-C13, together with possible enclosures, a pond and areas of ridge and furrow cultivation. Reasons for Designation The ringwork known as Jordan Castle, together with possible enclosures, pond and areas of ridge and furrow are scheduled for the following principal reasons: * Survival: the monument survives well as a series of earthworks and buried remains and is unencumbered by modern development. * Potential: for the archaeological deposits which will increase our understanding of the construction and occupation of the ringwork, as well as the social, economic and military activities of the upper echelons of medieval society more generally. * Documentation: it is recorded in contemporary sources, while non-invasive archaeological investigations mean that it is quite well understood. History In the decades following the Norman Conquest, earthwork and timber strongholds such as ringworks were built in a variety of strategic positions across England, although some defended enclosures, very like ringworks, do pre-date 1066. Ringworks are simple, but substantial enclosures defined by an outer ditch and an internal bank, sometimes strengthened with timber posts, or occasionally revetment walls, and were occupied by domestic structures typically built of timber. A simple addition was a bailey, a subsidiary area, usually constructed in the same way as a ringwork, within which timber ancillary buildings would have stood. Jordan Foliot inherited the manors of Grimston (Grymeston) and Wellow in about 1225. The ringwork, known as Jordan’s Castle, was built probably soon after this date and studies of historic documents (Henry III Fine Rolls Project, see Sources) indicate that Henry III and his entourage stayed there on three occasions between 1227 and 1229. During his stay in 1229 the King granted a number of deer from Sherwood Forest for Foliot’s new park (Wellow Park) to the north of the ringwork. In 1264 Jordan’s son Richard was granted a licence to ‘embattel the dwelling house of his manor of Grimeston’ (Thoroton, see Sources). Richard had rebelled against the Crown in 1261-1263, but only three years later during the Second Barons’ War, fought with the Royalists at the Battle of Evesham in 1265 and at the Siege of Kenilworth in 1266 (Henry III Fine Rolls Project, see Sources). Following Richard’s death in 1299 the estate passed briefly to his son Jordan, who died only five weeks after his father. The baronetcy appears to have then fallen into abeyance. It is unclear when the ringwork was abandoned but following the death of Jordan’s widow in 1330 the estate was divided up. The ringwork has been known as Jordan’s Castle since at least 1826 and is situated within a field called Castle Hill on the Tithe map of 1845. The site was the subject of non-invasive archaeological investigations, including earthwork and geophysical surveys, in 2005. Details PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: the monument includes the earthworks and buried remains of a ringwork, known as Jordan Castle, possible enclosures, a pond and areas of ridge and furrow cultivation. The ringwork was constructed probably in the early C13 and was altered in the mid-C13. It occupies a slight south-east facing slope. To the north-east is Wellow Park, a former deer park that was established in the C13. DESCRIPTION: the ringwork comprises a sub-circular platform, a revetment and a surrounding ditch. The platform measures approximately 52m north-west to south-east and 45m east to west, is raised above the surrounding ground level and is slightly higher at the edge than at its centre. The revetment along the edge of the platform is between 2m and 3m high, though some sections have been removed by later farming activities. Linear anomalies recorded on the platform during the geophysical survey in 2005 (Pre-Construct Geophysics, see Sources) are considered to represent parts of the revetment wall surviving below ground, while other anomalies have been interpreted as building debris and pits. The broad, outer ditch measures up to 9m wide and 2m deep but has been partially infilled on its east and north sides. To the south of the ringwork is a linear earthwork which may represent the remains of the original approach causeway. A system of ditches to the south, south-west and west of the ringwork are visible on the LiDAR images (see Sources) of the site and appear to define a crescent-shaped enclosure; to the east is the outer ditch of the ringwork. The ditch forming the west side of the enclosure has been described previously (Pre-Construct Geophysics, see Sources) as a possible hollow way, but it appears to be a continuation of the ditch to the south-east which itself connects with the ringwork’s outer ditch to the north-west of the causeway. The enclosure may have formed the bailey to the castle, an enclosed area in which ancillary buildings would have been sited. A small levelled platform at its south-east end may mark the position of a former building since the geophysical survey found evidence for possible sub-surface structural remains in this area. A further feature which is probably associated with the ringwork is a possible rectangular enclosure (planted as an orchard) to the south-east. The earthwork survey from 2005 and LiDAR image show it defined by shallow ditches to the north, west and east, although these have been obscured in places by hedges; the farm access road is parallel with the southern edge of the enclosure. Within its eastern end of is a former pond which is visible as a shallow depression measuring approximately 10m by 12m and which may be medieval in origin. The enclosure also contains traces of ridge and furrow, including a headland at the western end. There is further evidence of ridge and furrow to the north and west of the ringwork, and these earthworks are well preserved. To the north, each ridge is approximately 1m high, and the distance between them is some 6m, while the area to the west includes a broad, well-defined plough headland at the south end. Ridge and furrow also overlies the interior of the ringwork, and would therefore appear to post-date the abandonment of the manorial site. EXCLUSIONS FROM THE SCHEDULING: all boundary fencing, the surface of the farm track which bisects the monument and the telegraph poles and their supports are excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath these features is included. EXTENT OF SCHEDULING: the area of protection aims to include the earthworks and buried archaeological deposits of the ringwork, known as Jordan’s Castle, together with enclosures, pond and areas of ridge and furrow adjacent to and overlying the interior of the ringwork. The maximum dimensions of the monument are therefore 170m from north-east to south-west at its widest point and 265m from north-west to south-east.