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-bailey castles acted as
garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in
many cases, as aristocratic residences and the centre 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 or motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples
known from most regions. As such, and 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which they were superseded by other types of castle.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 mound, or motte, and adjoining courtyard or
bailey, each with enclosing ditches, of a castle dating from the early
Norman period. The castle occupies a naturally-defended and strategic
position above the River Arun.
The motte is circular in plan and measures some 75m across at its base. It
stands to an impressive 25m in height. The flat top originally measured 30m
in diameter, but it has been disturbed by subsidence and quarrying to leave
a horseshoe-shaped area within which evidence of the wooden tower and
enclosing palisade is considered likely to survive.
The bailey extends westwards from the motte and is separated from it by a
20m-wide ditch surviving to a depth of 2-2.5m. This courtyard area measures
some 65m east-west by 50m north-south and provided a protected area for
domestic buidings as well as quarters and stables, workshops and storage
space for the holder of the castle and his retinue. Access was gained via a
causeway in the north-east corner of the bailey.
The whole of the castle was enclosed within a defensive ditch, except on the
north side where steep slopes made such additional defence unnecessary. This
ditch is typically 12-20m wide and is now at most 2.5m deep having been
partly infilled by eroded soil from the bank on its inner edge. At the
south-west corner the ditch has been infilled to allow a track to cross.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12864
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
