More information : (TQ52810397) The Rookery (TI) Motte & Bailey (NR). (1)
"Typical motte and twin baileys" occupying 1 1/2 acres. Pitt-Rivers shows it to be Norman, earlier than "Burlough Castle" (TQ 50 SW 21) (2).
Crawford (3), Allcroft (4) and Evans (5) record similar information, and Evans refers to two baileys with "bridge ends and protective returns."
Braun suggests that the ditch between the motte and baileys was a modern drainage ditch, and is concerned that the mound is a long oval and not circular (6).
Musson, summarising previous authorities, concludes that it is a motte and baileys. In 1952 he cut, under difficult conditions, one trench across the top of the motte and another across the ditch between the motte and baileys. This latter trench proved that the ditch was not a drain as its base is well below normal water level. (Musson does not report finding anything in trenching the mound summit). The shape of the motte is due to it being a natural outlying spur of the hill to the NE. Documents dated 1371 (a) and 1567 (b) refer to "the manor lordship and Castell of Middleton alias Milton.
(See TQ 50 SW 23). (7)
The name "the Rookery" refers to an area of trees and bushes, bounded on the N and part of the E side by an oxbow of the Cuckmere, and on the SW and the remainder of the E side a ditch, now silted up and marshy. Within the enclosed area is an elongated mound, c 60.0m by c 30.0m and c 4.0m high, and two rectangular platforms, measuring respectively c 30.0m by c 10.0m and c 32.0m by c 16.0m, each separatedone from the other by ditches now silted up.
The mound and platforms described have been classified by Musson, Burwen et al as a certain motte with twin baileys, yet ground inspection, and re-examination of sources available locally, cast doubt on this classification for the following reasons:
(i) The mound being elongated oval on plan, does not resemble a motte.
(ii) No artificial features are apparent on the mound, and without the ditch-like features to the S, it is merely a natural mound.
(iii) The ditches enclose rectangular areas more akin to a homestead moat than a motte and bailey.
(iv) There is no trace of defensive ramparts associated with the ditches. (The bank shown on the E side is for retaining purposes).
(v) The "baileys" are exceptionally small.
(vi) The whole complex does not give an impression of having been a strong defensive feature.
(vii) The ditches have sharp profiles, probably due to recutting.
On present physical evidence the feature cannot be accepted as a motte and bailey without reservations.
Published survey (25") revised. (8)
The earthwork traces of the western part of the possible motte described by the previous authorities were mapped from Environment Agency lidar images. The site is overgrown so could not be discerned from aerial photographs. In the field to the south and west of the earthwork mound (centred at TQ 5270 0390)traces of parallel ditches and banks were also seen as earthworks on the lidar images. These could be associated with a former settlement, possibly medieval in date. To the east of the possible motte, on the eastern side of the present road, the slight earthwork remains of an elogated mound (30m x 80m) was seen at TQ 5290 0392 which could be related to the site of the supposed motte and bailey. These earthworks were mapped from Environment Agency lidar images as part of the English Heritage: South Downs Project. (9)
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