Reasons for Designation
Motte castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the
Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte,
surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of
examples an embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, the bailey,
adjoined the motte. Motte castles and motte-and-bai1ey castles acted as
garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in
many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal
administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte castles
generally occupied strategic positions dominating their immediate locality
and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early
post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles
and motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from
most regions. Some 100-150 examples do not have baileys and are classified as
motte castles. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest
monuments, they are particularly important for the study of Norman Britain and
the development of the feudal system. Although many were occupied for only a
short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from
the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other
types of castle.
The motte castle at Old Farm, Bucknell survives well and is a good example of
its class. It will retain archaeological information relating both to its
construction and to the occupation of the site. Environmental evidence
relating to the landscape in which the monument was constructed will be
preserved sealed on the old land surface beneath the motte and in the ditch
fill. Such motte castles provide valuable information concerning the
settlement pattern and social organisation of the countryside during the
medieval period and in this respect the proximity of the parish church which
lies to the south west of the motte is of interest.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a small motte castle situated on the
north bank of the River Redlake, in close proximity to Bucknell parish church
and a river crossing point. It includes an earthen mound, or motte, oval in
plan measuring 22m east to west by 20m north to south and standing up to 4.3m
high. The summit of the motte is eroded and slumped giving a rounded profile
and measures 8m east to west by 6m north to south. The southern side of the
mound has been cut into to allow the construction of a farm building, now
removed. A stone lined ice house 1.3m high and 6m deep has been built into the
NNW side of the mound. The ice house, which is a Listed Building Grade II, is
included in the scheduling. A fragment of the surrounding ditch is visible as
an earthwork for a short length on the north east side of the mound, here it
is 3m wide and 0.3m deep. The ditch will continue around the remaining sides
of the motte as a buried feature of similar width, except in the north west
quarter where the foundation cut of the adjacent farm house will have
destroyed the ditch.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
