Record Details

Summary

Skellow motte and bailey castle, which date to the medieval period despite being referred to as 'Cromwell's'

Monument Type(s):

• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds:

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument () 1012588: Cromwell's Batteries motte and Bailey Castle, Skellow

Full Description

<1> The motte is preserved and a bailey can be partly traced in a field to the north, where it is cut across by Hampole Balk Road.

<2>"The monument comprises a motte, c.5m high, surrounded by a ditch with sections of a bailey and rampart surviving to north and west. By and large, the bailey is lost under the road (Cross Hill), but small areas survive relatively undisturbed in private gardens and adjacent land. The motte, which is the best defined of the surviving features, lies in the grounds of Skellow Old Hall. A ditch coming through the west boundary of the hall grounds, close to the motte, is interpreted as an inlet or outlet channel for the ditch. Immediately to the west of the motte, areas of the bailey survive in the gardens of Cromwell's Croft and The Cottage, and sections of the rampart can be seen along the boundary between Cromwell's Croft and Edgehill. The most substantial section of bailey and rampart lies to the north of the road, where the latter stands to a height of c.3m. This section would originally have curved round to the west and south to link with the section south of the road. Some modification of these remains is thought to have occurred during the Civil War, giving rise to the tradition that they were gun emplacements and the local name, Cromwell's Batteries. All modern buildings and the surfaces of paths and driveways are excluded from the scheduling, though the ground beneath is included. The monument is composed of three separate constraint areas.

Although some areas of bailey and rampart at this site have been destroyed, the motte itself survives well and will retain considerable information on its original form and method of construction. In addition, the surviving sections of bailey and rampart are also well-preserved and are substantial enough for the original full extent of the bailey to be postulated."

<3> Traditionally the site of batteries used by Oliver cromwell during destruction of Hampole Old Hall. Only a small section of bank remains, most recently destroyed. Size and plan suggests a form of ring motte, but some similarities to Cival War battery at Cornbury, Oxon. References: O.S. cards, D.V.S.

<1> Hey, D., 1979, The Making of South Yorkshire., p44 (Bibliographic reference). SSY137.

<2> English Heritage, See Record, Scheduling Record (Scheduling record). SSY162.

<3> Various - Ordnance Survey, Various, OS Card (Unpublished document). SSY217.

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