Motte castle 250m west of Yockleton 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of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle.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 west of Yockleton Hall survives well and is a good example of its class. It will retain archaeological information relating to its construction, age and to the character of its occupation. Environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which the monument was constructed will be preserved sealed on the old land surface beneath the motte and in the ditch fill. Such motte castles, when considered either as a single site or as a part of a broader medieval landscape contribute valuable information concerning the settlement pattern, economy and social structure of the countryside during the medieval period.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a motte castle situated on the eastern tip of a low spur overlooking, to the east and south, the valley of a small stream. It includes a substantial castle mound, or motte, oval in plan with base dimensions of 44m north east to south west by 30m north west to south east. The summit of the motte stands 3m high and measures 24m along its axis and 14m wide. The motte is constructed on the tip of the spur to make maximum defensive use of the topography. The natural approach to the castle would be along the ridge top, and so around the west side a substantial ditch up to 8m wide and 2m deep has been cut across the neck of the ridge to separate the motte from the rising ground to the west. Although no longer visible as a surface feature a ditch will also be preserved as a buried feature around the remaining sides of the motte. A concave hollow cut into the southern quarter of the mound appears to be the result of later activity. No bailey associated with the motte has yet been traced.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

19226

Legacy System:

RSM

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