Monument Type(s):

• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A good example of a Norman earthwork castle which has been shown by excavation to contain well preserved archaeological remains.

Related records

Associated Finds

• FSA178 - POT (12th century to 13th century - 1100 AD to 1299 AD)

Associated Events

• ESA194 - 1956-58 Excavations at Smethcotte Motte and Bailey
• ESA195 - 1972 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA196 - 1973 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA197 - 1977 field observation by SCC SMR
• ESA198 - 1982 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA199 - 1986 WB by SCC SMR
• ESA4785 - 1992-2000 Summary Condition Survey of SAMs in the Shropshire Hills Environmentally Sensitive Area by English Heritage

Description

Hilltop motte and bailey west of Church. Motte flat topped 14ft (3m) above ground level. Base diameter 28m and bailey to S 50m N/S, 35m E/W bounded by scarp 6m wide and 1m-1.5m high. No traces of ditch of motte or bailey. OS FI 1972 <1>

A small motte-and-bailey castle lies to the west of the church at Smethcott. The circular motte rises 14ft above ground level and 5ft above the heart-shaped bailey, defined by an 8ft scarp, which lies to the south (2). Excavations of 1956-8 revealed 12/13th century occupation with a ditch round the mound, remains of a timber structure on its summit and stone foundations, possibly of a guard-house, just outside the ditch on the east. <2c>

Excavations in 1956-8: C12 -C13 occupation. Timber structure on summit of motte, motte ditch and stone foundations outside ditch on east. Finds included a silver brooch, a bronze ornamented plaque and much medieval pottery. <3>

The site lies on a roughly E/W ridge with a gentle slope down to the north and very steep slopes immediately beyond the bailey bank to the south. The motte is noticeably flatter and lower than is usual. The site is in good condition and under permanent grass. I Burrow FI 1977 <5>

Scheduling revised in 1994. Scheduling description: ->
->The monument includes the earthwork remains of a motte and bailey castle situated on the summit of a ridge lying roughly east to west with gentle slopes to the north and steep slopes to the south. The earthworks include a well defined motte with a base diameter of 40m rising 2.8m to a flat topped summit 16m in diameter. The bailey lies on the south side of the motte and is an oval enclosure with dimensions of 50m north to south by 35m east to west bounded by a well defined scarp slope varying between 1.2m and 1.7m high. There is no visible trace of a ditch surrounding the motte from which the material for its construction would have been quarried though one survives as a buried feature with a width of 3m. Similarly the outer ditch surrounding the bailey is not visible at ground level, though it will survive as a buried feature with a width of 3m. Excavations carried out at the monument in 1956-58 revealed the existence of the motte ditch, a timber structure on the summit of the motte and stone foundations outside of the ditch on the east side. Finds made at that time, including some whole cooking pots, indicated that the site was occupied in the 12th and 13th centuries. Excluded from scheduling is the cattle shelter at the south west corner of the bailey but the ground beneath is included <10>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009-2010. <11><12>

Visited during a condition survey by the English Heritage Field Monument Warden, in 2000. Condition recorded as good. <13>

A series of photographs of the 1956-1958 excavations were located within archive material from the collection of Ernie Jenks. Digital copies available; originals at Shropshire Archives. <14>

The features described by the previous authorities were seen on aerial photographs and mapped as part of the Marches Uplands NMP.
The motte and bailey is very denuded by ploughing. <15><15a>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.