Castle mound

Summary

Motte castle called Castle Mound.

Reasons for Designation

Motte castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte, surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of examples an embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, the bailey, adjoined the motte. Motte castles and motte-and-bai1ey castles acted as garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte castles generally occupied strategic positions dominating their immediate locality and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles and motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from most regions. Some 100-150 examples do not have baileys and are classified as motte castles. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest monuments, they are particularly important for the study of Norman Britain and the development of the feudal system. Although many were occupied for only a short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle.

The motte castle called Castle Mound survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, development, longevity, social, political, economic and strategic significance, domestic arrangements, abandonment and overall landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 28 May 2015. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes a motte castle situated on the upper north east facing slopes of a ridge which forms the watershed between and overlooks two tributaries and their confluence with the River Frome. The motte survives as an oval shaped mound 24.4m long, 21m wide and up to 3.4m high surrounded by a largely buried ditch which is, however, more clearly visible to the west where it measures up to 9.4m wide. There are reports of the foundations to a round tower with an apsidal projection having been observed on the motte and chance finds of 12th to 14th century pottery have been recovered in the vicinity.

Further archaeological remains in the vicinity are not included because they have not been formally assessed.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

HE 167

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape 112460, Herefordshire SMR 940

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