Monument Type(s):

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

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A good example of a Norman motte and bailey (earthwork) castle, sited to control a crossing point of the River Camlad.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1731 - 1968 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA1732 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA1733 - 1983 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA4714 - Marches Uplands Mapping Project 1993-1994 by RCHME
• ESA6422 - 2010 geophysical survey at Hockleton Motte, Chirbury by Archaeological Surveys Ltd
• ESA6423 - 2010 Evaluation at Hockleton Farm Shropshire by SCAS
• ESA6477 - 2010 WB at Hockleton Farm Shropshire by SCAS
• ESA8358 - 2009 Conservation management plan for Motte and bailey castle 80m SE of Hockleton Farm, by Shropshire Council HET

Description

AP shows bailey clearly <1>

Possible additional rectangular bailey on S side of motte on Aps <3>

At the end of a ridge of high ground forming a gorge of the River Camlad. The motte is 80ft from the edge of the gorge, with a bailey on the N. The scarp of the bailey is 7ft high. The motte now 12ft high and 14ft across the summit <10a>

Not a tumulus but a motte and bailey castle <11>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 46 Motte and Bailey castles. <16>

Scheduling revised in 1995. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the remains of a motte and bailey castle situated on the north end of a ridge on the west bank of a steep sided gorge through which the River Camlad flows, north of Chirbury. The castle was sited to control a river crossing some 200m north of the castle. It includes a well defined castle mound, or motte, circular in plan with a base diameter of 25m rising 4m to a flat summit 6m in diameter. Attached to the north side of the motte are the remains of a roughly triangular bailey enclosure, within which the domestic buildings associated with the castle would have been protected. It has maximum internal dimensions of 40m east to west by 30m north to south and is bounded around its west, north and east sides by a scarp averaging 2m high which curves inwards in the south, towards the motte, which here forms the south side of the enclosure. The bailey scarp is interrupted at its northern corner by an original entrance gap 6m wide. Although no longer visible as a surface feature an outer ditch with an estimated width of 4m will surround the exterior of the motte and bailey. <17>

Ditch feature identified by Marches Uplands Mapping Project. <18><19>

During a magnetometer survey it was found that a curvilinear positive anomaly surrounds the motte and is likely to represent a former ditch. The most magnetically enhanced parts of the anomaly lie to the north and north east of the motte, and it is possible that this is related to increased human activity immediately adjacent. The anomaly does not clearly join to form a single feature although it is possible that the magnetic response is not representative of the true shape. A discrete bipolar anomaly was located close to the top of the motte and this may represent an area of intense burning. Other short positive linear anomalies were located within, and immediately adjacent to, the bailey earthworks with some more discrete positive anomalies on the northern side of the motte. These anomalies have been classified as of archaeological potential although it is uncertain as to whether they have been caused by magnetically enhanced soils within cut features or the creation of earth banks. Several discrete positive anomalies were located across the area and these may indicate former pit-like features. Magnetic debris to the south of the motte represents magnetically remnant material. Although a modern origin is likely, it could be the result of industrial activity and/or areas of intense burning and therefore may be archaeologically significant. <21>

In February 2010 archaeological trial trenches were carried in connection with proposals to create a new farm track around the edge of a motte and bailey castle, and to carry out repairs to erosion to the castle earthworks. Much of the fabric of the motte, which is exposed in erosion scars, appears to comprise a mixture of gravel derived from this shale and the clay subsoil. A slight holloway runs from the northwestern corner of the field up through the castle bailey to the southern part of the field.->

->The evaluation elsewhere has demonstrated the potential and actual survival of below-ground medieval features within the study area, possibly associated with the motte and bailey castle or with the settlement at Hockleton (PRN 08479), including a pit/ditch (PRN 21940) which produced 3 conjoining sherds of medieval pottery of 12th -14th century date and a radiocarbon date from charcoal in its fill of mid to late 14th century date. The late date of these finds possibly relates to the abandoment or clearence of the motte and bailey site rather than its use. No significant archaeological features were identified in the trial trenches C and D to the southeast and south of the castle. <22>

Photographed during aerial photographic survey in 2009-2012. <23>-<28>

Whatever structure there was on the motte top can only have been small - a look out tower or the equivalent of a machine gun post. Hockleton was perhaps more like a defended farmstead than a castle, in the usually accepted sense of the word. Aerial photograph and survey plan reproduced. <29>

A conservation management plan was prepared in October 2009 for the motte and bailey castle, covering the upgrading of the farm track on the NE side of the monument to prevent vehicle erosion, the establishment of fencing to facilitate control of the grazing on the monument and a programme of earthwork repairs. ->

-> Includes a summary of archaeological significance of the site. The aerial photograph plots produced by the RCHME as part of the Marches Upland Mapping Project [<30a>] suggest that a second, larger outer enclosure may be situated beyond the bailey. Examination of recent oblique aerial photographs suggests that the physical evidence for this comprises a substantial curved bank on the north-western side of the castle, set back from but running parallel to the hedge. To the north a well defined hollow way runs through the entrance into the bailey. Examination of historic edition of the Ordnance Survey map indicates that this feature was used as a farm track in the late 19th century and is now followed by the line of the public footpath. A small area of narrow ridge and furrow between these two features probably represents post-medieval ploughing. If there is indeed an enclosure at this location it might represent the site of the pre-Conquest settlement at Hockleton [see PRN 08479]. Alternatively it may be an outer bailey, possibly associated with the refortification of the site in 1225, or relate to the later medieval use of the site. <30>

A very small motte and bailey, neither of which are well preserved. Lying astride a ridge to the west of the river with the bailey on the north and the motte to the south. The bailey is badly worn but to the west a scarp about 7 feet high survives. There is no trace of either bank or ditch. The motte is 12 to 16 feet above the bailey and to the south there is a ditch now only 2 feet deep. The present diameter of the top is about 14 feet but since this is the result of erosion and earth-spread, the original diameter must have been between 25-30 feet. <31>

Small motte and bailey, situated as described above, within a pasture field. The much-eroded motte has a base diameter of 24.0m, and a height of 4.5m. The summit is now less than 3.0m in diameter. To the N are the ploughed down and spread remains of a bailey, 35.0m across. It is bounded by a scarp which reaches 2.2m in height on the W side, but is no more than 0.3m high on the E side, whilst the N side has been completely eroded down by an old farm track. The ditch on the S side of the motte is an old field boundary ditch which continues to the NE beyond the site. <32>

The motte and bailey described above was clearly visible as cropmarks and earthworks and was mapped from aerial photographs during the Marches Uplands Mapping Project. <33><3>

Sources

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