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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 with surrounding moat set on level ground
in the valley of the River Wylye. The motte is 48m across and rises 5.5m
above ground level. It has a level top 28m across with traces of a perimeter
bank. A ditch, from which material was quarried during construction of the
monument, surrounds the motte. This survives as a waterfilled moat to the
south, east and north of the mound but is dry to the west. It varies in width
between 5m and 25m and is between 2 and 3m deep except to the west where it
survives as a buried feature.
The site is believed to have been a castle belonging to the Gifford family.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12321
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
