Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Tower Hill
Hob Uid: 25684
Location : Darlington Middleton St. George
Grid Ref : NZ3460012320
Summary : Earthwork remains of a motte castle in good condition. A partly natural mount, 22 metres in diameter, 50 metres at the base and 5.5 metres high with traces of scarping on the north and west sides. The remains of the bailey attached to it have been obliterated by modern housing. Scheduled.
More information : NZ 34601232 Tower Hill (NAT) Earthwork (NR) (1) Tower Hill; motte and bailey. A partly natural mount, 20 ft high, with traces of scarping on the north and west sides and only faint remains of the bailey attached to it. Mr Wooler says that old labourers tell of the levelling of ramparts and the filling in of a ditch which once surrounded it. (2) Earthwork consisting of a motte 22.0m in diameter 50.0m at the base and 5.5m high. No trace of any walling or foundations can be seen and around the perimeter is an asphalt path which has obliterated all traces of the surrounding ditch. Only some very slight slopes exist in the area to the north west where the bailey was probably situated but they are not sufficient to be called the remains of the bailey. (3) Modern housing to the north-west has obliterated any possible traces of a bailey, otherwise no change. Published survey (25") correct. (4) NZ 3460 1231. Tower Hill motte castle, 370m NE of Dinsdale Spa. Scheduled RSM No 20968. Dimensions as given by Auth 3 above. Tower Hill motte is very well preserved and a good example of a motte castle, a rare monument type in County Durham. (5) Listed by Cathcart King. (6)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : OS 6" 1923
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source : The Victoria history of the county of Durham, volume one
Source details :
Page(s) : 355
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 1905

Source Number : 3
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : F1 JHO 25-MAR-53
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : F2 RE 11-NOV-81
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source : County list of Scheduled Monuments : March 1994
Source details :
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 6
Source : Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery
Source details :
Page(s) : 136
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 1

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte, Motte And Bailey
Evidence : Earthwork, Enhanced Natural Feature

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 20968
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NZ 31 SW 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities : Primary, FIELD OBSERVATION ON NZ 31 SW 2
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1953-03-25
End Date : 1953-03-25

Associated Activities : Primary, FIELD OBSERVATION ON NZ 31 SW 2
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1981-11-11
End Date : 1981-11-11

Historic England Research Records

Tower Hill