SDO14381 - Sturminster Newton 'castle' SMR 129. A study and geophysical survey of a 14th century manorial site set within an Iron Age hill fort

‘The paper consolidates material from a range of historical and archaeological sources and offers new information and data about the site It concludes that the Iron Age complex was probably an early bivallate hillfort, larger than previously recorded. At some later stage, possibly pre conquest, the site was developed as a royal castle and Newton became an important manorial centre. After Doomsday the site continued as a significant location passing into the ownership of Glastonbury Abbey where it remained until the dissolution. By 1544 the castle had been replaced by the present ruinous manor house, which was extended and modified until its last resident vacated in the late 18th or early 19th century.’