The Mount ringwork at Alderton

Reasons for Designation

Ringworks are medieval fortifications built and occupied from the late Anglo-Saxon period to the later 12th century. They comprised a small defended area containing buildings which was surrounded or partly surrounded by a substantial ditch and a bank surmounted by a timber palisade or, rarely, a stone wall. Occasionally a more lightly defended embanked enclosure, the bailey, adjoined the ringwork. Ringworks acted as strongholds for military operations and in some cases as defended aristocratic or manorial settlements. They are rare nationally with only 200 recorded examples and less than 60 with baileys. As such, and as one of a limited number and very restricted range of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fortifications, ringworks are of particular significance to our understanding of the period.

The Mount at Alderton is one of seven ringworks which survive in Northamptonshire and has an unusual sub-rectangular shape. The monument is largely undisturbed.

Details

The ringwork known as The Mount is located on high ground on the north eastern side of Alderton village, just to the north of St Margaret's church. The monument has a sub-rectangular bank approximately 1m high enclosing a central area which is about 50m across. A large ditch, up to 10m wide and 5m deep, is apparent around the ringwork on all but the south west side. The uneven interior of the ringwork is slightly raised above the surrounding ground surface and is considered to preserve below ground remains of buildings. The early history of The Mount is not clear, but it is mentioned in 13th century records and is considered to be of late 11th century or early 12th century date. On a map of 1726 the ditch around the ringwork is shown filled with water and the area is called Castle Mound.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

13644

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England, , The Archaeological Sites of Northamptonshire, Volume not known, (), 61-3

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