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Stippershull

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Stipershill; Stipurashall; Stiper's Hill

In the civil parish of Polesworth.
In the historic county of Warwickshire.
Modern Authority of Warwickshire.
1974 county of Warwickshire.
Medieval County of Warwickshire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SK273025
Latitude 52.61959° Longitude -1.59819°

Stippershull has been described as a probable Uncertain.

There are uncertain remains.

Description

Pollesworth, where Modwena an Irish virgin, of whom there went so great a fame for her holie life, built a religious house for Nunnes, which Richard Marmion a noble man repaired, who had his Castle hard by at Stippershull. (Camden)

Stipershill. The place which bears this name, is situate on the Northern side of Anker, a little above Polesworth, where the ground has a naturall and steep descent to the River; and by the form of an old entrenchment, seems to have been a little Fortification. Till Edw. 3 time, I have not seen any thing of its name; but then being written Stipurashall, it was made use of, by the Lords of Tamworth-Castle, for the keeping of their Three-weeks-Court, as it had been (Presumably) in the Marmions time: Which Court continued so kept there, for a long time after, as by severall Records appeareth, all the Tenants of the Fee, doing their suit and service there: but now it is usually kept no more than twice in the yeare. (Dugdale)
Comments

The place-name Stiper's Hill at the given map reference suggest this was the site of Stippershull but there is no archaeological record either in PastScape or the Warwickshire HER for anything here. The Warwickshire HER informs Gatehouse "This area to the E of Polesworth has, however, never been subject to intensive background research or investigation." and they do not seem to have been aware of this potential castle site.
An important Court, in a high status landscape, described by Camden as a castle and by Dugdale as a fortification does suggest a medieval fortification of some sort. The lack of remains is a concern but if on the bank above the river perhaps has been lost to river erosion, or destroyed by the railway. A rough racetrack built over the likely location is not going to make reading the medieval landscape any easier but might produce finds.
Modern writers, particularly David Cathcart King, seemed to have missed Camden's reference to a castle, although King was certainly aware of Camden.
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.
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This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:20:08

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