A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE moat in its perfect and original state was much deeper. Three-eighths of a mile west-by-south, in a field called ' Harris,' is a small mount, as shown on the plan ; the top of it is level and measures 24 ft. in diameter. This and several other mounts in the neighbourhood are named on the Ordnance Survey as ' tumuli,' but most appear to have been made for defen- sive purposes. Almelev Castle MOUNTS WITH ONE OR MORE ATTACHED COURTS (Class E) Almeley Castle. — This, one of the long series of border strongholds, is situated nearly 4 miles south-east of Kington, and is formed on a tongue of land projecting southward from higher ground. The position is to a small extent defended by nature upon the west and south-west by the stream, and the slight fall of the land towards it. The entrenchments consist of (i) a mount some 27 ft. above the lowest part of its surrounding moat ; (2) a square court upon the north-west, defended upon two sides by a ditch and rampart, now almost levelled ; upon the west side there was appa- rently no ditch, but probably the rampart was once completed there. This appears to be of later construction than some other mount fortresses, but whether it dates from so late a period as Stephen's wars, as has been suggested, is doubtful. It is mentioned in a mandate of King John in 1216.^* Another earthwork of the same class, known as Oldcastle Twt, within half a mile on the north-west, is thought to be of earlier date. Almeley Oldcastle. — This work stands within half a mile of Almeley Castle, which lies to the south-east at about 70 ft. lower level. Oldcastle Twt (or Toot, as it is frequently called) occupies and is formed out of the south ending of a narrow tongue of land between two streams, about 400 ft. above sea level, :. with higher land upon the north, and ^ t; lower upon the south. The position is naturally defended on the south by the low land, and to a certain extent on the west and east. The entrenchments consist of a mount and court. The form of the mount and south portion of the work has been slightly altered, partly owing to the construction of a foot-path. The court is separated from the mount by a fosse, and is defended from the high land on the north by a fosse and rampart. There is " See Trans. Woolhope Field Club (1902-4), 235. 232 ^ .jf7??m. f Almeley Oldcastle
