Monument Type(s):

• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

A well-preserved example of a Norman motte and bailey (earthwork castle), protected as a Scheduled Monument, overlooking part of the Teme Valley.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1623 - 1953 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1624 - 1978 topographic survey by Shropshire County Council
• ESA1625 - 1978 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1626 - 1984 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1627 - 1986 field observation by English Heritage

Description

A motte and bailey known as The Moat. The motte is 24ft high with an 8ft deep ditch. The bailey consists of a 6ft high rampart with a 4ft deep ditch <4a>

Well preserved motte and bailey castle set on terrace on N side of Teme valley, with a steep drop on its NE side. Bailey lies to SE of steep sided, flat topped motte 7m high and 12m across the top, 32m diameter at base. Bailey slopes gently NE/SW and NW/SE, with quarry hollow behind bailey bank, which stands c 1m above interior on all sides except NE, dropping to 3m to outside ditch. Original entrance at junction of bailey bank and ditch and motte ditch on the W side, on the N side of gap is one course of masonry, perhaps the jamb of a gateway. Clinometer survey across the motte and bailey. I Burrow FI 1978 <5><6>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, medium, of 46 Motte and Bailey castles <9>

Scheduling revised in 2000. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a motte and bailey castle, situated on the northern side of the valley of the River Teme. It is at the end of a spur of land defined on its north eastern flank by a steep slope created by a stream which flows into the Teme. From this location there are commanding views of the Teme valley and the surrounding uplands. The flat- topped, steep-sided circular motte stands about 7m high and measures approximately 32m across at its base and 12m across the top. It is encircled by a ditch. The bailey, which measures approximately 24m by 28m internally, is defined on its northern side by the steep slope formed by the stream. It is bounded on its southern and eastern sides by a bank and an outer ditch, with a counters carp bank to the east. A 3m wide causeway into the bailey is situated at the south western corner of the enclosure, between the motte ditch and the bailey defences. ->

-> All fences are excluded from the scheduling, together with the telegraph pole, although the ground beneath them is included <10>

Record of management issues and reccommendation made in c.1996. <11>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2010. <12>

A well preserved motte and bailey stands above the steep bank of a stream in the Teme valley. The motte is 7.2m in height from the bottom of the surrounding ditch, which is 2.6m deep; the flat summit is 10.0m in diameter. The bailey to the south-east is 30.0m in diameter, and is enclosed by a bank 1.4m in height internally, and up to 4.0m in height above the external ditch. The entrance to the bailey is on the west, adjoining the motte. Published survey (1/2500) revised on Antiquity Model. <13>

The motte and bailey described above was seen as earthworks, partially obscured by trees, on aerial photographs and was mapped during the Marches Uplands Mapping Project. <14><14a>

Listed by Cathcart King <15>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.