Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Lowe Hill
Hob Uid: 52514
Location : Wakefield Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : SE3265019680
Summary : Medieval motte with two baileys to the north east. A terrace at the north end at first thought to be a third bailey appears to be the result of levelling for a bandstand in the 19th century. All earthworks except the motte have been damaged by landscape gardening. Excavation in 1953 indicated that the motte is probably an unfinished 12th century adulterine castle. Scheduled.
More information : [SE 3265 1968] Lowe Hill [G.T.] (1) Lowe Hill is a motte about 30 feet high with two baileys to the north-east [See plan] A terrace at the east end, first thought to be a third bailey, appears to be the result of levelling for a bandstand in the 19th c. All the earthworks except the motte have been mutilated by landscape gardening. In 1953 excavations by Hope-Taylor indicated that Lowe Hill was probably an unfinished adulterine castle of 12th c. date, possible the work of the third Earl de Warrenne who died in 1148. Finds in the inner bailey and motte ditch included 12th c. pottery and an iron prick spur. A trench in the outer bailey produced only 18th/19th c. rubbish. Scheduled. (2-4) Resurveyed at 1/1250. (5) SE 3268 1972. Lowe Hill motte and bailey castle. Scheduled. (SAM number amended: new National Number 13294, from 4402). The motte stands c9m high, has a base diameter of c25m and is surrounded by an infilled ditch visisble as a shallow depression c5m wide. A scarp on the west and north sides of the motte continues eastward to create the north side of the inner bailey which is a roughly square enclosure measuring c40m across. Low banks, c1m high and 3m wide, follow the edge of the scarp and would bave been the site of a timber palisade. An apparent third bailey on the NE side is interpreted as a platform built to accommodate a Victorian bandstand. (6)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1961
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : (ES Armitage)
Page(s) : 42
Figs. : PLAN
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : (B. Hope-Taylor)
Page(s) : Jan-14
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Vol(s) : 1953

Source Number : 4
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Source details : AMs England and Wales 1961 113 (MOW)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 RWE 10-DEC-64
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : English Heritage Scheduling Amendment 9/3/92
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Source Number : 7
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Source details :
Page(s) : 527
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Vol(s) : Feb-83

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : probably C12
Monument End Date : 1199
Monument Start Date : 1100
Monument Type : Motte And Bailey, Adulterine Castle
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : C19
Monument End Date : 1900
Monument Start Date : 1801
Monument Type : Bandstand
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WY 385
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 13294
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SE 31 NW 3
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1953-01-01
End Date : 1953-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-12-10
End Date : 1964-12-10

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2015-01-01
End Date : 2015-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Lowe Hill