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were superseded by other types of castle.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 the earthwork and buried remains of the medieval motte
and bailey castle, known as Toot Hill, which is enclosed by ditches and banks
on low lying ground adjacent to the Great Eau. The land at Tothill was part of
the land of Greetham which belonged to the Norman earls of Chester. The site
dates to the 11th or 12th century, representing either a fortification dating
to the immediate post-Conquest period or to the civil war during King
Stephen's reign. In the post-medieval period a house was constructed within
the bailey; this house, which is called Tothill Manor, is a Listed Building
Grade II and 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:
31628
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
