Scheduled MonumentsEnglandBurgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle

Burgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle

England
List entry 1013094
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Burgh Castle is a multi-period fortified site in Suffolk, England, whose earliest substantial remains comprise a Roman fort of the late third century AD, built as part of the coastal defensive system known as the Saxon Shore. The fort's distinctive walls, constructed of flint and Roman tile in a characteristic herringbone pattern, survive to considerable height and enclose an area of approximately six acres. Following the Roman withdrawal, the site was occupied by a pre-Conquest monastery, which later gave way to a Norman motte and bailey castle constructed within the Roman fort's defences, demonstrating the continued strategic importance of this location across multiple centuries. The combination of Roman military architecture, early Christian religious occupation, and medieval fortification makes Burgh Castle an exceptional example of continuity of settlement and reuse of earlier structures across a span of over a thousand years.

Burgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1013094. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Burgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle?

Burgh Castle is a multi-period fortified site in Suffolk, England, whose earliest substantial remains comprise a Roman fort of the late third century AD, built as part of the coastal defensive system known as the Saxon Shore. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1013094.

Who is responsible for protecting Burgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle?

Burgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1013094.

What other scheduled monuments are near Burgh Castle Roman fort, vicus, pre-Conquest monastery and Norman motte and bailey castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Berney Arms windmill (1 km), Mill Hill bowl barrow, 650m north east of Caldecott Hall (2.8 km), Lound Waterworks engine house (4.8 km).

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