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were superseded by other types of castle.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 includes a motte and bailey castle situated on a gentle north-
facing slope on the northern edge of the North Downs, lying within the
boundary of a disused military airfield.
The castle survives as earthwork remains which include a substantial earthen
mound, or motte, surrounded by a large moat. To the south east are the remains
of a formerly walled bailey within which lie the upstanding remains of a
tower, thought to represent a mural tower.
The motte survives as an oval earthwork mound which stands to a height of c.5m
above the surrounding ground level. The mound has a flat top which measures
c.40m north east/south west by c.28m across. Built into the mound are World
War II air raid shelters. These have brick entrances in the side of the mound;
the main chamber is constructed from steel and concrete situated at
approximately ground level, with a brick ventilation shaft.
Surrounding the motte is a moat which, although partially infilled, is still
visible to a depth of c.4m and up to c.18m wide to the north, west and south.
To the east of the motte the moat has been deliberately infilled and now
survives as a buried feature.
Lying beyond the infilled moat on the south east side of the motte is the
castle bailey. This area was originally enclosed by a wall but the only
upstanding masonry remains which now survive are the ruins of a possible mural
tower which was incorporated into a later medieval manor house which is a
Grade II Listed Building. This is included in the scheduling. The wall
survives to a height of c.7.5m at this point and is built of flint and
ragstone. Elsewhere the line of the bailey wall is visible as a terrace which
runs south from the tower with a drop of c.1m to the east. There is a second
slight terrace further west, with a drop of 0.5m on the east side, possibly
indicating the line of an internal division within the bailey. Situated on the
outer bank of the moat in the north west corner of the monument is a concrete
bunker also dating to World War II.
Excluded from the scheduling are the warehouse, fences and fence posts,
although the ground beneath all these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
23033
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
