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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 includes The Mote Castle mound, a 12th/13th century medieval
motte castle located on the summit of Castle Hill in Brampton which was later
used as the site of a signalling beacon during the 15th century. The motte is
artificially cut out of the higher end of a long ridge and consists of an
oval-shaped summit plateau measuring c.36m by 18m. About 12m downslope there
is an encircling ditch c.5m wide and up to 3m deep which is flanked by an
outer bank measuring c.5m wide and up to 2m high. There are extensive views to
the west, north and east from the summit of the hill and it is for this reason
that the hilltop was later used as the site of a beacon. This system of
beacons was created to warn of impending attack by Scottish invaders and was
developed from the time of Henry III (1216-72). A list of beacons dated to
1468 indicates that the beacon at Brampton connected with a system of beacons
which ran along the Tyne valley to the east.
A number of features are excluded from the scheduling: these comprise the
statue of the 7th Earl of Carlisle together with its plinth and concrete base
situated on the summit of the hill, a wooden seat, a fence, a stile, and a
stone retaining wall flanking a path leading to the hilltop; 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:
27694
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
