Reasons for Designation
Motte and bailey 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-bailey 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 and
bailey 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 or motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally,
with examples known from most regions. 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were superseded by other types of castle.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 monument at Castle Stede is of particular importance as one of a group of
early post-Conquest (late 11th century) mottes established along the Lune
Valley. These sites were all of strategic importance, allowing control of
movement along the river valley. More important, however, was their role in
imposing and demonstrating the new post-Conquest feudal order on the area. It
is the best example of a motte and bailey castle in Lancashire. Its earthworks
survive well and the lack of subsequent occupation on the site means that
buried structural remains and environmental evidence is likely to survive
well. The positioning of a pill box on the site emphasises the continued
strategic importance of the site in the early 20th century.
Details
Castle Stede consists of a motte and bailey castle situated at the NW
extremity of a ridge of high ground projecting to the banks of the River
Lune overlooking Loyn Bridge.
The monument comprises a conical motte surrounded by a ditch on three sides.
To the W is an oval-shaped bailey defended by a rampart and ditch on its S
side. To the N and NW a steep slope down to the river affords protection.
A modern causeway, on the site of the original, gives access into the
bailey, while a mound and a cutting on the W side of the motte indicates the
site of access from the bailey. During World War II a pill box, which is also
included in the scheduling, was constructed on the outer edge of the bailey
ditch on the south side of the monument.
All field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling although the ground
beneath them is included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
