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Summary

Castle Hill: a motte castle 250m east of Hanby Hall Farm

Full description

ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM HANBY HALL IS A LARGE TUMULUS OR BARROW, CALLED CASTLE HILL, 'WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE OF CELTIC ORIGIN'. {3}
THIS IS CASTLE MOUND WITH A PROMINENCE IN THE NE CORNER, AND DROPPING AWAY TO THE SW WHERE MUTILATION, PROBABLY 'THROWING DOWN' IS EVIDENT. HTM 13M
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a medieval motte castle, known as Castle Hill, located 250m east of Hanby Hall Farm. In 1086 land at Welton le Marsh was held by Gilbert de Gant, and during the 13th century, by Jolanus de Hamby. The motte is associated with the medieval manor of Hanby.
The motte takes the form of a large mound, approximately 5m high, enclosed by a ditch. The motte is sub rectangular in plan, measuring 50m by 40m at its base, with rounded corners and steep sides to the north and east. The top of the motte measures up to 30m in length, sloping gently down to the south west; a level platform, 10m in width, the north eastern corner may indicate post medieval alteration. The ditch enclosing the motte on the east and north sides is visible as a depression measuring up to 6m in width and up to 0.5m deep. The southern ditch arm has been infilled but survives as a buried feature visible on aerial photographs. The western arm has been partly infilled and is now marked by a shallow depression. A low bank marks the outer edge of the north western corner of the ditch. {5}

<1> OS CARD INDEX, TF 46 NE:4,1964, SEAMAN B H (Index). SLI2827.

<2> HBMC, AM 7, SAM 279 (Scheduling Record). SLI4067.

<3> OLDFIELD, E., 1829, TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF WAINFLEET, P276 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI939.

<4> RAF, 1946-71, RAF POST WAR COLLECTION, CPE:UK:2604; 4161,4162,1948, (Aerial Photograph). SLI134.

<5> English Heritage, 2000, Revised scheduling document 31633, MPP 23 (Scheduling Record). SLI5677.

Monument Types

• CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOTTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Events

• Site visit to Castle Hill

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

Related records

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