Monument Type(s):

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

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A well-preserved motte and bailey castle, which documents suggest was in use from the late 12th to the early 14th century

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1220 - 1959 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1221 - 1972 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1222 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1223 - Undated (probably 1976) field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA1224 - 1986 field observation by English Heritage

Description

Site of the early castle at Tong. A castle at Tong in 1098, though possibly on a different site (1359). Land called Olde Castle mentioned in 1320 <1a>
A natural isolated knoll of red sandstone adapted to form a motte . It is circular, 20ft to 25ft high and flat topped. A wet moat surrounded it, crossed by a causeway from the NW. It commanded no great view as the great view as the ground nearby is as high or higher than it is <1b>
A natural flat topped mound with its sides artificially steepened. Situated in a marshy hollow and almost surrounded by higher ground. It is 4.9m high to the west and 3m high on the east side. Irregularly shaped top32m x 25m. There are traces of an artificial ditch, 0.5m deep on the SW side and further traces of a ditch on the SE side. A causeway 0.5m high to the SE side. A causeway 0.5m high to the E may have given access to the site. OS FI 1975 <1>

As described by the OS <2>

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

Scheduling revised in 2000. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a motte and bailey castle known as Castle Hill, in the hamlet of Tong Norton. The castle is probably that mentioned in a charter dated 1185-90, although it is unclear whether an earlier documentary reference to a castle at Tong in 1098 relates to this site or to the castle 1.1km to the south west (mostly destroyed by the construction of the M54). It is probable that land referred to as 'Olde Castle' in a document dated 1320 is the castle at Tong Norton, indicating that the castle may have been abandoned by that time. ->

-> The motte has been formed from a natural steep-sided, flat-topped knoll of red sandstone beside the River Wolfe, which is surrounded by gently undulating land. This kidney-shaped mound measures approximately 40m by 55m at its base, 28m by 33m (maximum dimensions) across the top and is between 5m and 2.5m high. The sides of the knoll may have been artificially enhanced to increase its defensiveness. To the south of the mound lies a triangular shaped bailey, measuring 40m by 65m internally (maximum dimensions). It is defined on its eastern side by a well-defined scarp, up to 0.8m high, created by cutting into the natural slope. On its western side it is defined by a natural slope, possibly artificially enhanced, that falls towards the River Wolfe. ->

-> All fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included. <7>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009. <8>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 01071 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01b> Anon, Wm Phillips MSS, c61 (Manuscript). SSA1867.

<01a> Auden J E, 1897/ 1898, Article in Bygones (Article in serial). SSA4007.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1975, Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ70NE2 (Card index). SSA4008.

<02> Burrow Ian, Visit Notes (probably 1976) written on SMR Card (Site visit report). SSA4012.

<03a> Renn D R/D F?, 1968, Norman Castles of Britain, p234 (Monograph). SSA244.

<03> Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (HBMC), 1987-Feb-02, Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 31993 (02/02/1987) (Field Monument Warden Report). SSA4011.

<04> English Heritage, Map of Scheduled area (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA4009.

<05> Burrow Ian, 1976, Colour Slide of Castle Hill, Tong Norton from the North (Photograph). SSA4010.

<06> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File (TEXT). SSA20084.

<07> English Heritage, 2000, Scheduling Papers (Affirmation, 07/06/2000) (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA21315.

<08> Shropshire Council, 2009-Apr-5, SA0908_119 to SA0908_120 (2 photos) Flight: 09_SA_08 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25806.

Sources

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