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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 a ditched motte castle situated immediately west of
St John the Baptist's Church on the northern bank of a canalised stream known
as `Mill Brook' in South Moreton.
The castle consists of a large roughly circular mound or motte, surrounded on
all but part of the western side by a broad, deep ditch which both provided
material during the construction of the mound and enhanced its defensive
capability. This ditch could be either dry or filled with water from the
adjacent stream as required.
The motte stands 4m high and measures approximately 40m in diameter at its
summit and around 50m across at its base. The ditch is 15m wide and although
partially infilled as a result of soil erosion, still stands 2m deep in places
and would originally have been up to 3m or more in depth. The gap on the
western side which formed an entranceway measures 10m wide and would have
contained a wooden stockaded gateway to control access.
Excluded from the scheduling are all boundary fences, although the ground
beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28196
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
