More information : [SD 8277 1247] Site of CASTLE [GT] (1)
'Not far from thence [Castle Steads: earthwork SD 71 SE 9] at a place called "Castle Hill" there seems to have been in the feudal times a lordship of the royalty tenure, with power of imprisonment and execution of criminals. A hill just by is still called Gallows Hill'. (2)
No evidence of earthworks or of extant remains, are visible in the vicinity of the published site. The alleged position seems a most improbable one, in that it is situated part way down a hill side in a very vulnerable site. Mr A Taylor of Castle Hill Farm stated that he has ploughed over the area for many years and has never found any trace of foundations or other indicative material. (3)
"At Castle Hill resided for some time a family named Lomax. From the will of Peter Lomax of Castle Hill, proved in 1712" (4)
There is nothing to suggest the Lomax family were anything other than a farming family without any manorial court rights, so it does seem an unlikely location for a castle. The adjacent Gallows Hill is suggestive that perhaps there was a small legal court in the area. (5) |