| Summary : Medieval motte and bailey castle surviving as an earthwork. Excavation between 1956 and 1958 revealed 12th to 13th century occupation, an encircling ditch, the remains of a timber structure on the motte, possibly a keep and stone foundations of a building, possibly a guard house, just outside ditch on the east. The flat topped motte had a base diameter of 28 metres and a height of 3 metres. The bailey to the south was 50 metres across and 35 metres transversely. No traces of the motte ditch were visible during field investigation in 1972. Scheduled. |
More information : (SO44889937) Castle Mound (NR). (1)
A small motte-and-bailey castle lies to the west of the church at Smethcott. The circular motte rises 14ft above ground level and 5ft above the heart-shaped bailey, defined by an 8ft scarp, which lies to the south (2). Excavations of 1956-8 revealed 12/13th century occupation with a ditch round the mound, remains of a timber structure on its summit and stone foundations, possibly of a guard-house, just outside the ditch on the east. (2)
Finds included a silver brooch, a bronze ornamented plaque and much medieval pottery. (3)
Visible on air photographs, as described. (4)
Small motte and bailey, situated upon a hilltop. The flat-topped motte has a base diameter of 28.0m and a height of 3.0m. The bailey to the S is 50.0m across E-W by 35.0m transversely, and is bounded by a scarp, up to 6.0m wide and from 1.0 to 1.5m in height. No traces of the motte ditch are visible. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (5)
SO 448 993: Round barrow 50 yds (45m) W of Smethcott Church. Scheduled (6)(7)
The features described by the previous authorities were seen on
aerial photographs and mapped as part of the Marches Uplands NMP.
The motte and bailey is very denuded by ploughing. (8)
Listed by Cathcart King. (9) |