Bledisloe Tump

Bledisloe Tump stands in the village of Awre in Gloucestershire, on a natural rise that overlooks the River Severn. The site once held a timber castle built in the 11th or early 12th century, chosen for its commanding position. Later a small mound, sixty feet wide and seven feet high, was added, possibly an unfinished motte from the Anarchy of the 12th century. One view suggests Henry II ordered its destruction after the conflict as part of a wider programme of castle denigration. The mound may also have been built to support meetings of the Hundred of Bledisloe. The site later became a place for local government gatherings. A manor house, Bledisloe Manor, was built nearby and the remaining earthworks were levelled in the 1970s. The castle’s timber structure and later mound show how medieval defences evolved on this spot. The Anarchy and Henry II’s actions shaped the site’s history. The Hundred of Bledisloe gave the place its name and purpose in later centuries. Today only earthworks remain, but the site still offers a quiet view over the Severn. The rise where the castle once stood is still visible. The manor house nearby adds a later layer to the landscape. The area remains peaceful, with no modern buildings to spoil the view. It is a small but important reminder of Gloucestershire’s medieval past.