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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 510m east of Broadward Hall is a well-preserved example of
this class of monument, despite disturbance to the mound from a 19th century
excavation and erosion of part of the surrounding ditch. The mound will
retain evidence of its construction and the structures that were built upon
its summit. Organic remains preserved within the buried ground surface under
the mound and within the surrounding ditch will provide valuable evidence
about the local environment and the use of the land before and after the motte
castle was constructed. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by
its association with other motte castles nearby. The monument remains a
prominent feature within the landscape.
Details
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a motte castle,
situated within the flood plain of the River Clun from which there are
extensive views of the surrounding area. It is situated roughly midway between
the motte castles at Leintwardine and Clungunford, which are the subject of
separate schedulings, and which also occupy land next to the River Clun. All
three castles would appear to have controlled crossing points across the lower
downstream portion of the river.
The flat-topped, steep-sided oval mound measures approximately 27m by 32m at
its base, 11m by 14m across the top and stands up to 3.5m high. The size of
the mound indicates it was only large enough to support a watch tower.
Although no longer visible at ground level, except where it is cut by the
river, a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the
monument, surrounds the mound. The exposed section of the ditch indicates that
is about 5m wide and 1m deep, and has been infilled with riverine sediments. A
limited excavation of the mound was conducted in the mid-19th century in the
belief that it was a burial mound. No burials or artefacts were found during
this investigation.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
