Scheduled Monument: A good example of a Norman earthwork castle, believed to have been the centre of the manor of Rhiston.
The motte stands on a ridge at its highest point and though the ditches have been filled-in the motte itself is well preserved with steep sides. The top is slightly oval with an average diameter of about 38 feet, and the height varies from 19 feet on the south to 16 feet on the north east. Examination of air photographs may reveal a bailey or associated village. Plan and sections reproduced. <5a>
A motte with a slight fosse about 2ft deep on the E side. It is scarped from the natural hill <6>
Scheduling revised in 1995. Scheduling description: ->
-> The monument includes the remains of Gwarthlow castle motte castle which is believed to have been the centre of the manor of Rhiston. The castle is situated on the summit of a low ridge commanding excellent views of the surrounding landscape. It includes a well defined earthen castle mound, or motte, circular in plan with a base diameter of 28m and standing up to 6.3m high. The motte has been constructed by cutting a scarp around the ridge summit to form a foundation mound and then piling further material on top to give the desired height. The summit of the motte is roughly oval in plan with dimensions of 12m east to west by 10m north to south, its surface sloping from east to west. Surrounding the motte is a ditch from which material would have been quarried for the upper part of the motte. It remains visible around the eastern quarter as a shallow depression 0.2m deep and 4m wide and will survive around the remaining sides as a buried feature of similar proportions. There is no visible evidence for a bailey associated with the motte. The fence surrounding the motte and ditch is excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath is included. <8>
Photographed in 1999 from the air by Chris Musson. <10>
Photographed during aerial survey in 2008. <11><12>
Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 43 Motte castles. <13>
Discussed in an article concerning Madog's raid on the Vale of Montgomery, 1332. Contemporary documents discuss an inquistion into the raid being held in May 1332 at 'Werthlowe' which can be identified with Gwarthlow. This considers the evidence of this site as a motte, against the suggestion that it might have originated as a barrow or tumulus, based on its oval shape. The origin of the placename as 'watch hill' might be significant in this regard. <14>
The motte stands out well but nothing can be seen of a bailey or village. <15>
A turf-covered motte as described above, 27.0m in diameter at the base, 6.0m in height, with a level summit, 11.5m across. No traces of ditch or associated features in surrounding pasture field. <16>
The motte described by the previous authorities was seen as earthworks and mapped from aerial photographs during the Marches Uplands Mapping Project. No further information was added. <17><4>
| [00] | SSA20722 - Card index: Shropshire County Council SMR. Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards. SMR record cards. SMR Card for PRN SA 01261. |
| [01] | SSA17352 - Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1984-Dec-10. CPAT 84/36/0008. |
| [02] | SSA17353 - Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1981-Jul-25. CPAT 81/C/0087. Colour. 35mm. |
| [03] | SSA17354 - Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1981. CPAT 81/52/0031. |
| [04] | SSA17355 - Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1988-May-06. CPAT 88/12/0002. |
| [05a] | SSA4084 - Article in serial: Spurgeon C J & King D J C. 1965. The Mottes in the Vale of Montgomery. Archaeologia Cambrensis. Vol 114. p79-80. |
| [05] | SSA5197 - Field Monument Warden Report: Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (HBMC). 1985. Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 18108. |
| [06] | SSA475 - Monograph: Bird A J. 1977. History on the Ground. p90. |
| [07] | SSA5195 - Scheduled Monument notification: Ministry of Works. 1950. Map of Scheduled area, 1950. |
| [08] | SSA5196 - Scheduled Monument notification: English Heritage. 1995. Scheduling Papers (Affirmation, 15/11/1995). 19213. |
| [09] | SSA21654 - Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1999-Jul-26. CPAT 99/MB/0568. Black and White. Medium. |
| [10] | SSA27672 - Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1999-Jul-26. CPAT 99/C/0706. Colour. Medium. |
| [11] | SSA25221 - Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2008-Nov-25. SA0812_005 to SA0812_009 (5 photos) Flight: 08_SA-12. Colour. Digital. |
| [12] | SSA25218 - Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2008-Jul-26. SA0811_120 to SA0811_122 (3 photos) Flight: 08_SA_11. Colour. Digital. |
| [13] | SSA20084 - TEXT: Horton Wendy B. 1990/ 1991. MPP Evaluation File. |
| [14] | SSA30409 - Article in serial: Davies J. 2018. Madog's Raid: The Welsh Attack on the Vale of Montgomery, 6 April 1332. Montgomeryshire Coll. 106. pp.43-54. |
| [15] | SSA31561 - Vertical aerial photograph: Historic England / RAF. c.1946-1955. NRHE: RAF Aerial Photographs held by Historic England Archive. Black and white. RAF 106G/UK/1698 1187-8 27-AUG-1946. |
| [16] | SSA31554 - Site visit report: Ordnance Survey Field Investigator. Various. NRHE: Ordnance Survey Field Investigators Comments. F1 ASP 12-MAR-73. |
| [17] | SSA31570 - COLLECTION: Historic England. 1993-1994. NRHE: RCHME: Marches Uplands NMP. MU.392.1.1. |