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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 is Dodleston motte and bailey castle. It is situated on the
Welsh side of the River Dee from where control could be kept of the marsh
lands between the river and the Welsh foothills. The motte is located in the
eastern half of the bailey with the north-eastern corner of the bailey having
been destroyed by the construction of a rectory and its gardens. The site
includes a flat-topped motte, slightly mutilated on its northern side, but
measuring c.13m diameter at the summit and 3.3m high. It is surrounded on all
sides except the north by a ditch, c.2.3m deep by 7m wide at the base, that is
dry apart from a small waterlogged area at the south-east. The bailey is
bounded by a bank and outer ditch, best preserved on the south-east where the
bank measures c.7m wide by 1.5m high. The outer ditch remains waterlogged in
its southern part and has an average width of c.6-7m and is 3m deep. It has
been partly infilled on its eastern side. A dry outlet channel some 2.5m wide
by 33m long issues from the south-eastern corner of the outer ditch.
In 1086 Dodleston manor was held by Osberne Fitz Tezzon, a Norman baron who
founded the Boydall family. It subsequently passed to the Redishes. A later
mansion, the property of the Manleys of Lache, was erected within the site.
This was the headquarters of Sir William Brereton during the seige of Chester
(1644-6) and has since been demolished.
A greenhouse and shed, all walls, fences and the remains of a Victorian
sewage system in the outer ditch are excluded from the scheduling. The ground
beneath all these features, however, is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13501
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
