Monument Type(s):

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

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A good example of a Norman motte (earthwork castle), which includes the remains of a major tower keep (a strongly fortified residence) of unknown date.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1296 - Undated field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1297 - 1972 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1298 - 1986 field observation by English Heritage

Description

A ringwork; the perimeter ditch to the S is now barely distinguishable. OS FI 1972 <1a>
An early Norman motte cum ringwork situated upon a north-east to south-west ridge, at the edge of steep, north-west facing slopes to a stream, within what was formerly probably wet or boggy ground. The earthen mound, under grass and covered with trees, measures overall, 44.0m. in diameter, and rises 3.5m. above the ridge top on the south-west and on the south east, but 5.0m. on the north-west, and 6.5m. on the north-east, but here the ground has been disturbed by being cut away for a roadway. A bank around the summit of the mound is from 1.0 to 2.0m. in height internally, and is some 6.0m. in width. The enclosed area is 18.0m. in diameter. At the centre is a depression, 4.0m. across and 1.0m. deep. The bank has been lowered about 1.0m. on the south-west, probably the site of the original entrance, and on the south-east, probably a later mutilation. There are remains of an encircling ditch on the east. It is 5.0m. in width, and 0.3m. in depth, and extends for 15.0m, but probably formerly continued around the south and west sides across the ridge, but would have been unnecessary on the steep north-west side. The motte has been dug into on the south-west for its sand content, but is otherwise in fair condition. <1b>

The motte at Wilcott lies at the northern end of a natural bank. A ditch now 1ft deep separates it from the higher land to the south, whilst other sides are defended by swampy ground, through which a stream runs. The motte, which has a hollow 6ft deep in its summit, rises steeply to a height of 30ft above the low ground, but is only 12ft above the bottom of the semi-circular ditch to the S. Photo ( E Livock 18.3.39) <3a>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 43 Motte castles <6>

The monument includes the remains of a motte castle situated on the northern end of a low spur east of the village of Wilcott and overlooking the valley of a small stream to the north west. It includes a well defined castle mound, or motte, which is circular in plan and has a base diameter of 42m. The motte is positioned on the tip of the spur using the natural defensive strength of its position to maximum effect. Around the north side of the site the slope of the motte and the natural slope of the spur merge so that the motte summit stands 9.2m above the wet ground to the north, and there is no outer ditch. Around the south side, where the natural slope of the spur top rises slightly away from the motte, the motte stands approximately 3.9m high and is separated from the spur by a curving ditch 4m wide and 0.2m deep cut across the line of the spur. The summit of the motte has a maximum diameter of 26m and is hollowed at centre to a depth of 2.4m forming a depression 21m in diameter. This is believed to represent the foundations of a circular tower which originally occupied the motte summit. At the centre of the depression a circular hollow 4m in diameter and 2m deep represents an early investigation of the site. The south western quarter of the bank formed around the edge of the central depression has also been cut at some time in the past, creating an entrance gap 4m wide into the motte interior. No bailey associated with the motte has yet been traced. <7>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009. <8>

Listed by Cathcart King as a ringwork. <9>

Sources

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