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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 the summit of a steep slope
overlooking Hay Bottom to the north and east, 180m south west of Newington
Bagpath, in an area of the Cotswold Hills.
The motte, which is known as Newington Bagpath Castle Mound, has a mound
composed of small stones. It has a maximum diameter of 40m and a maximum
height of c.1.5m. The mound has a flat top which supports a smaller mound 15m
wide and c.0.5m high. In the northern area of the mound there is a quarry 10m
wide and c.1.2m deep.
The motte is surrounded on the north, south and west sides by a ditch from
which material was quarried during its construction. The ditch varies in width
from 5m in the north west to 6m in the south west and is c.1m-1.5m deep. The
northern area of the ditch has been partially infilled and this is likely to
be associated with nearby quarrying. The steep slope of the hill provides a
natural defensive boundary on the eastern side of the monument.
The monument is one of two motte castles known to occur locally, strategically
sited either side of Hay Bottom.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22909
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
