Reasons for Designation
Motte and bailey 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-bailey 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 and
bailey 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 or motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally,
with examples known from most regions. 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were superseded by other types of castle.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 consists of the motte and bailey castle known as Castle Dykes
which lies to the north of the village of Farthingstone.
The mound of the castle motte stands 5m above the surrounding ditch and is
about 80m in diameter at its base. The remains of stone walls are
identifiable on the motte mound. The motte is centrally placed between two
lateral inner baileys which lie to east and west of the motte. The baileys
consist of well defined floor areas, approximately 70m wide in the west
bailey and about 62m wide in the east bailey. Both are surrounded by a
substantial bank 3m high. To the north of the motte and inner baileys lies
the outer bailey which measures about 108m x 110m. The whole monument is
enclosed by a large ditch up to 3m deep, with an outer bank up to 2.5m high.
A causeway crosses the ditch and provides access from the outer bailey to the
western inner bailey.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13637
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
