Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Beacon Hill
Hob Uid: 347137
Location : Northamptonshire Wellingborough Wollaston
Grid Ref : SP9085062940
Summary : Beacon Hill motte castle lies in the centre of the village of Wollaston, just to the south of the church. The conical mound of the motte is over 6 metres high, with a base diameter of approximately 60 metres and a flat summit of about 24 metres across. The motte ditch is still apparent on the south side and, during small scale excavations in 1961-2, the ditch was found to be up to 3.5 metres deep. Pottery of the 12th century was also discovered, together with the remains of a 12th century stone building which stood on the summit. This building is considered to be the remains of an early stone castle, which was destroyed soon after it was built, and traces of an even earlier structure were found beneath it. It is also known that a post mill was sited on the motte in the 13th to 15th centuries. There is no record of a bailey being attached to the castle but this may have been destroyed by later building on the site. Scheduled.
More information : (SP 9085 6294) Beacon Hill (NAT) (1) A small motte. (2) Excavated by Hall who dates the motte to the 12th c. The castle itself was supplanted by a windmill in the 13th c and the said documentary evidence shows this was removed in the late 15thc. The surviving earthworks comprise the mound with a ditch to the south. Building in the village would have removed all traces of a bailey if ever there was one. Published survey (25") revised. (3-4) Beacon Hill motte SP 90856293. Also known as Mill Hill in the 18th century. Motte remains are oval, 50m across E. to W. and 60m N. to S. 5m high with a summit 25-35m in diameter. The line of surrounding buildings on the N. side suggest the former presence of a small bailey (up to 30m across). RCHM plan. (5) Additional reference. (6) Listed by Cathcart King. (7) As well described above, a Medieval motte is visible as earthworks on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data and was mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. (8-9)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 25" 1900
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Source Number : 7
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : US/7GR/LOC334 V 5002 31-MAY-1944
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : LIDAR SP 9062 Environment Agency 1m DTM 04-JUL-2006â€“03-AUG-2017
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : F1 BHS 4-AUG-70
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Source Number : 3a
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Source details : Mr D N Hall 322 Newton Road Rushden.
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Source Number : 4
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Source Number : 5
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Source Number : 5a
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Source details : Whellan F. 1874. History, Topography and Directory of Northamptonshire, 431
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Source Number : 5b
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Source details : Bridges J. 1791. History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, 2, 199
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Source Number : 5c
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : 08/11/1995
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : C11
Monument End Date : 1099
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte, Mound, Ditch
Evidence : Earthwork, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Built and destroyed in C12
Monument End Date : 1199
Monument Start Date : 1100
Monument Type : Castle
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : C13 to C15
Monument End Date : 1499
Monument Start Date : 1200
Monument Type : Post Mill
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : NN 51
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Northamptonshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 9062002
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 13647
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SP 96 SW 17
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Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1961-01-01
End Date : 1962-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2016-02-01
End Date : 2019-05-03

Historic England Research Records

Beacon Hill