Ormside Ringwork

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte Ringwork)

There are uncertain remains

NameOrmside Ringwork
Alternative NamesGreat Ormside
Historic CountryWestmorland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishOrmside

C11 church said to be built on possible motte or ringwork with large circular enclosure to east. Jackson writes mound is 36m by 52m similar in size to ringwork of Appleby castle.

Late 9th century Viking burial found in 1898 in Ormside churchyard. The skeleton was accompanied by a sword, shield boss, knife and piece of iron rod, 11 1/2" long, semi-tubular in section and pierced with four rivets at intervals of 2 1/2". The sword is late 9th century. A Bronze Age cist was also discovered, and the suggestion is that the church is built on a prehistoric barrow. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

See also Ormside Church. Gatehouse suspects this is a natural glacial mound that has been used and modified in several periods and has gained social significance by this use. It seems entirely possible it was used as a high status residential site, as well as a religious centre, at several periods including immediately pre and post Conquest.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY701176
Latitude54.5530700683594
Longitude-2.46171998977661
Eastings370150
Northings517600
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 78
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press) p. 77
  • Curwen, J.F., 1932, 'Parishes (East Ward): St James, Ormside' The Later Records relating to North Westmorland: or the Barony of Appleby (Kendal: CWAAS Record Series 8) p. 189 online transcription

Journals

  • Collingwood, W.G., 1923, 'An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Cumberland' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 23 p. 278-9 online copy
  • 1899, 'Various finds in Ormside Churchyard' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 15 p. 377-80 online copy
  • Hodgson, J.F., 1880, 'Kirkby Stephen Church' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 4 p. 182-3n online copy