National Trust

51111*0

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Description: 
County SMR No GM 1/1/0
Not National Trust but included for association
Description: A motte & bailey castle on a triangular promontory formed by R. Bollin to the south & steep side of gorge to the north. Approximately 300M to the east is the Roman road (RR 7) which became an important medieval highway & the castle dominated the river crossing. The motte is 6m high & 40m broad at base, surrounded by 5m wide ditch cutting the promontory & separating it from the bailey. On the east side, the ditch is 3m deep with a possible ramp or entrance work on the west side. The triangular bailey is 80m long on the east side & 60m on other sides. A rampart survives on the crown of the steep slopes on each side but is ploughed down to 0.3m high. A 4m wide ditch can be seen. The motte & bailey survives well & will retain evidence for timber buildings beneath the ground surface.
The hill formed part of the extensive barony of the de Masseys, who, it seems, were responsible for its construction. Excavation evidence includes post-holes and possible hearths, traces of the outer ditch remain, the deep inner ditch still encircles the mound. The size suggests speedy construction, perhaps by Hamon de Massey during the rebellion against Henry II in 1173, though no documentary evidence exists. A Henry II silver penny was recovered from the motte by Mr W.T. Pownall in the (early ?) C19, when site known locally as Yarwood Castle (Yarwood, 1993).
Lord Stamford's early C20 boundary stone included in revised SAM which has NMR No:25727 (NT SMR No).


Status: Scheduled Monument

Country:  England

County:  Greater Manchester

District:  Trafford

Parish:  Bowdon

Grid Reference:   SJ747860

Map Reference:  [EPSG:27700] 374750, 386000

Period/Subject:  1066 - 1300 - MOTTE AND BAILEY

Identifiers: 
[ADS] Depositor Id: 51111*0
[ADS] Associated Id: HBSMR Id: MNA115959
[ADS] Import RCN: NTSMR-MNA115959

People Involved: 
[Publisher] National Trust