SoA Forums

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Imperial Dave on May 27, 2023, 12:26:49 PM

Title: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Imperial Dave on May 27, 2023, 12:26:49 PM
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2023-05-27/norman-castle-uncovered-after-lying-forgotten-for-decades

Well blow me down guv....
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Duncan Head on May 27, 2023, 12:42:50 PM
Looks like "forgotten" is a bit of an exaggeration - some people always knew it was there. I'll be interested if they do find anything much about the site's earlier history.
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Erpingham on May 27, 2023, 01:01:41 PM
The fact that it and the associated village are both called Fenny Castle must have been a big hint.  With a name like that, I wonder if we are looking at a fortification on what was once an island in wetland.  Seems probable based on the photos taken from the top visible online. Dave may feel free to rush in with a post-Roman fortification theory at this point  :)
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Imperial Dave on May 27, 2023, 04:53:23 PM
Ha. Beat me to it  :)
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Swampster on May 28, 2023, 08:25:52 PM
"Some of the villagers had forgotten the castle was there."

More like 'some of the villagers never thought twice about anything historical in the vicinity'.
Probably the same in most places.
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Jim Webster on May 29, 2023, 09:30:31 AM
Quote from: Swampster on May 28, 2023, 08:25:52 PM"Some of the villagers had forgotten the castle was there."

More like 'some of the villagers never thought twice about anything historical in the vicinity'.
Probably the same in most places.


How many of the villagers lived there thirty years ago? Remember a lot of these places have pretty high rates of population churn as people move into the area in middle age, and when they die their house tends to be too expensive for the younger generation. A lot of villages are losing their history because they're becoming dormitories for nearby (or not so nearby) urban areas
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Imperial Dave on May 29, 2023, 10:48:24 AM
This is very true and one aspect/consequwnce of gentrification
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Cantabrigian on May 29, 2023, 04:28:13 PM
Hmm, when was the last time you met the chair of the local history society, and they were in their twenties?
Title: Re: Forgotten Castle Rediscovered
Post by: Jim Webster on May 29, 2023, 06:21:54 PM
Quote from: Cantabrigian on May 29, 2023, 04:28:13 PMHmm, when was the last time you met the chair of the local history society, and they were in their twenties?

I know one local town with one, but none of the villages. There again, I'm not the sort of person people invite to join local history societies  :)