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Monument Types

• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Med, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1546 AD (at some time))

Full description

A well defined castle mound and fosse on the W side of the old manor house at Lowdham. Nearly levelled (suggests ditch once wet). (1)
Excavated Aug 1936. The mound was elliptical, 100ft x 70ft and 9ft high, surrounded by a depression. It was covered in coarse grass and trees. A stone wall foundation, 4ft thick, was found around the edge of the top of the mound and a "pavement" of stones, 2ft wide, 18ft long, oriented 20 degrees E, ran across the ditch. Fragments of roofing tile, Med green glazed potsherds, bones (and some Ro potsherds) were found in the mound. Trenches outside the mound revealed c 2ft of occupation soil overlying Keuper Marls. The depression was identified as a moat (ditch) with c 1400 AD potsherds etc within it. (3)
Further work, in 1937, on the mound, revealed wall foundations in its NE corner with Med green glazed roof tiles. Two C14 keys were found. On the NE of the mound, separated from it by the stream, is an earthwork, formed by a ditch, 12ft deep on the N and E, "an early settlement site". (4)
More excavation in 1938 revealed that the motte's ditch was of similar dimensions all round. (5)
F Hind and F Smith were excavating in the 1940's - no details given. (6)
The excavations clearly revealed a stone built Med keep on the mound, with traces of other structures near the mound. There is a rectangular enclosure formed by a bank and ditch N of the mound and what may be the ditch of a large bailey is preserved by the sunken lane to the N and W of the mound - Church Lane. The outbreak of war stopped the work and the finds are believed to have been lost. Mr Houldsworth has a few photos of the excavation. (7)
A ditched motte standing to a max height of 3.0m tree covered in part. The top of the mound is greatly disturbed - doubtless due to the previous excavations. No surface indication of building foundations was noted and no surface finds were made. No remains could be traced of the rectangular enclosure - now ploughed. The suggested bailey and the "12ft deep ditch" is a disused sunken road, leading to church. (8)
See L 8180 for Ro pot.

<1> VCH, 1906, Notts, pp 305,310,313 (Published document). SNT1383.

<2> British Archaeological Assoc, 1907, JBAA - new series, vol 13, p 57 (Published document). SNT194.

<3> Thoroton Soc Exc Section, 1937, Ann Rept 2, p 11 (Published document). SNT1364.

<4> Thoroton Soc Exc Section, 1938, Ann Rept 3, p 13 (Published document). SNT1365.

<5> Thoroton Soc Exc Section, 1939, Ann Rept 4, p 32 (Published document). SNT1366.

<6> Thoroton Soc Exc Section, 1942, Ann Rept 7, p 7 (Published document). SNT1367.

<7> Houldsworth HO, Hon Corr (Personal comment). SNT789.

<8> Seaman BH, 1960, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1243.

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