Monument Type(s):

• MOTTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• RINGWORK? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: The remains of the original Norman motte of Shrewsbury Castle, somewhat eroded now on the river side, but known to contain the remains of stone structures associated with the early castle (though now crowned with an 18th century folly).

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3744 - 1990 auger survey on motte and adjacent to postern gate at Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury by SCCAS
• ESA6386 - 2000 resistivity and GPR survey of Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury by Stratascan
• ESA7890 - 2001 Assessment of the buried archaeology of Shrewsbury Castle by Nigel Baker
• ESA9184 - 2019 excavation in the inner bailey of Shrewsbury Castle by Nigel Baker
• ESA10513 - 2022 Excavations on the motte and the north curtain wall at Shrewsbury Castle by Nigel Baker

Description

Motte, in south-east corner of the castle inner bailey (62507). Present semi-circular footprint is probably a consequence of erosion on the outer side of the bend in the river, a process apparently underway by the 1220s, when the case brought against the abbot in 1255 for damaging the motte by erosion brought about by his mill concluded that the motte or tower had been in decay for 30 years [<1>]. Successor to the motte tower probably represented by the base of a circular stone tower (62505) projecting from the east side of the footings of Telford's Laura's Tower. Flat top to the motte subject to archaeologically-monitored resurfacing (site 60242). Motte would probably have been ditched around its base on the south-west (outer bailey) and north-west (inner bailey) sides, but no trace of infilled ditches is apparent on surface. For further details see main database record for castle (PRN 01097) <2>

In 2000 geophysical survey was carried out at Shrewsbury Castle using a resistivity and ground probing radar. On the motte top there were many discrete anomalies characteristic of wall foundations of a building or buildings with several rooms. Defensively, one building makes the most sense and it is possible the foundations are from several phases, supported by some features being deeper than others. Around the western end, a wall may have run around the motte as a defensive feature. A pit and a shallower feature, possible buried metal, were also identified in the area. Tenuous evidence for a motte ditch was also found, though no similar feature was seen elsewhere as would be expected. <3>

An auger survey was undertaken of the motte in 1990, in association with proposed resurfacing and drainage works. This recorded archaeological deposits at a depth of 300mm in the area of the motte, including possible building foundations. <4>

A detailed analysis of the archaeological and historical development of the castle, prepared in 2001, by Nigel Baker, in connection with the preparation of a conservation plan for the castle. This contains a detailed description of the development of the castle motte. It could possibly have been an addition to a simpler and less labour-intensive pre-1069 ringwork fortification. The flat side on the east is thought to be the consequence of a land-slip in the 13th century resulting from erosion of its base by the river. There are various documentary reference to the motte asnd to the structures that arel ikely to have been associated with it. Includes a dicussion of the results of the 1990 auger survey (<4>) and the GPR survey (<3>) for understanding the archaeology of the motte. <5><5a>

Elements of the motte ditch were possibly identified in geophysical survey carried out in 2019 as part of a Castle Studies trust fund programme of investigation at the castle. <6>

The motte ditch was further investigated in excavations carried out in 2019 subsequent to the geophysical survey. See PRN 62507 for more extensive discussions. The excavated evidence alone would not have been sufficient to rule out other explanations for the cut – for example, a large quarry pit or other localised intrusion – but seen in the light of the resistivity results, there is now absolutely no doubt that the base of the motte, certainly on its western side, was surrounded by a ditch roughly 12 metres wide, of unknown depth. <7>

Further discussion of the development of the motte in excavation report from 2020. An initial description is provided of the masonry around the top of the motte, which was subject to preliminary investigations following limited clearance works. The evidence is also discussed that the medieval royal hall was located on the top of the motte. <8>

Sources

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