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were superseded by other types of castle.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 250m to the east of
Howe Hill Farm.
The motte mound survives to a height of up to 20m and has an overall diameter
of up to 30m. It is surrounded by a bailey bank which to the south and east
survives to a height of up to 0.7m, and is between 2m to 4m wide.
Bailey earthworks also survive less clearly to the west of the motte.
Masonry of the original tower survives on the summit of the motte, which is
reputed to have been the site of the original Spofforth Manor house of the
Percy family, given to them at the time of the Norman Conquest.
Modern post and wire fencing is excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
26621
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
