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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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.
Details
The monument includes a motte castle situated on gently sloping ground with
good views over the surrounding area, 200m south east of Lasborough, in an
area of the Cotswold Hills.
The motte, which has a mound composed of small stones, has a maximum diameter
of 45m and a maximum height of c.2m. The mound has a flat top and now contains
a large central cavity or quarry with an open face on the north eastern side
of the mound. The quarry has internal dimensions of 15m by 20m and although 2m
deep, it has not disturbed the original ground level below the mound. There
has been some reduction of the mound by ploughing and it extends as a lower
earthwork for 16m to the west and 6m to the east, of the highest part of the
mound.
The mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during the
construction of the monument. This has become infilled over the years, but
survives as a buried feature c.5m wide.
There is no sign of an associated bailey or enclosure.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22894
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
