Motte castle 100m north of Wotherton Hall

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of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle.

The motte castle at Wotherton survives well and is a good example of its class. It will retain archaeological information relating to the materials and techniques used in its construction and to the period and nature of its occupation. Environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which it was constructed will survive on the old land surface sealed beneath the motte and in the ditch fill. Such motte castles provide valuable information concerning the settlement pattern and social organisation of the countryside during the medieval period. Wotherton motte is one of a series of such castles positioned along the main valley pass between Shrewsbury and Montgomery. Considered together they contribute valuable information concerning the management of this important routeway.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a small motte castle situated towards the foot of a north west facing slope in the bend of a small stream to the north of the village of Wotherton. It includes an earthen mound or motte, circular in plan with a base diameter of 21m rising to a flat summit 10m in diameter and standing 1.2m above the surrounding ground surface. A ditch up to 4m wide and 0.4m deep is visible around all sides but the north west, where the stream valley drops steeply away from the motte.

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:

19196

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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