An Anglo-Saxon enclosure was established on Whittington Tump by the 7th century and during the mediaeval period it is thought to have been the site of a motte castle.

Whittington Tump (also known as Crookbarrow Hill)[1]: 2  is located some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south-east of the city of Worcester and commands its southern approaches.

[4]: 3 Antiquarian John Price writing in 1799 thought that the names of the hill came from Old British but both Whittington and Crookbarrow are, at least partly, derived from Old English.

[2] The tump, recognisable by a distinctive solitary tree on its top, is clearly visible from the motorway on the approaches to junction 7 (Worcester South) and is used by some motorists as a landmark.

[7] There is evidence of prehistoric activity at the site, a neolithic scraper was found on the north-east side of Whittington Tump in 1886, and the hill would have formed an important landmark at this time.

A settlement here would have had the advantage of fertile soil, a ready supply of water from Long Brook and good visibility over the surrounding land.

[10][11] Joseph Webster, writing in 1858 stated that Whittington Tump was an important spot from which laws passed in Middlesex were proclaimed.

The motte may have had a wooden or stone tower and a terrace on the north and west sides of the structure indicated that it was probably surrounded by a palisade or walkway.

Prominent ridge and furrow remains are evident on the north and west side of the hill on a north-west to south-east alignment.

This was because the castle has been described as a good example of a motte structure and the tump may preserve details of the original construction such as post holes or foundations.