Hendomen 3
The occupation of Hendomen
In 1960 excavations were started at the motte by professional archaeologists; work proceeded for some 30 years, making it the longest on-going dig in the country. It was carried out by Messrs. Philip Barker and Robert Higham and their team, largely in the summer months. It ended in the early 1990’s due to lack of funding and much work remains to be done.

19th century plan of Hendomen from the Montgomeryshire Collections 

By kind permission of the Powysland Club

plan of hendomen

A - The motte
B - The bailey
D - Ditches
E - Banks
The occupancy of the motte at Hendomen by the Montgomery family was quite short, perhaps thirty years or so. As stated earlier, there were a number of mottes between this site and Shrewsbury at which latter place Roger would probably have spent most of his time. He was engaged in the building of the Abbey of St Peter and St Paul, of which original structure little remains today - only the pulpit which stands in the former refectory. He controlled a very large part of present day Shropshire. Following his death in July 1094, he was buried in the Abbey between the two altars, but following alterations to the building his tomb was moved to the Nave where today, a small effigy [damaged] can be seen. He had taken the habit, it said, only three days before his death. 

 

 The following year, 1095, the motte was in the hands of the son. Hugh was attacked by the Welsh and a massacre of the garrison took place. Hugh was succeeded by another son, Roger of Belleme, but he took part in a revolt against King Henry I and paid dearly for it. His lands in England and the Welsh Marches were taken from him and he was compelled to return to France where he was kept prisoner from 1102 until his death. This effectively was the end of the Montgomerys at Hendomen. From this date the motte was held by the
de Boulers until 1207, but the land was a mere fraction of Rogers’ original holding, probably just that in the immediate vicinity. After the demise of the de Boulers the land reverted to the crown.
  There are 7 pages on the norman origins of Hendomen. Use the box links below to view the other pages