Details

The monument includes the earthworks of a motte castle situated on a foothill
of the Long Mynd overlooking ground falling to the east. The motte is visible
as a well defined mound 25m in diameter at base rising 4.7m to a flat topped
summit 10m in diameter. Traces of a ditch 8m wide and up to 1.3m deep can be
seen around the south west and north east sides of the motte. This is the
visible part of a surrounding ditch from which material would have been
quarried for the construction of the mound. The ditch will however survive as
a substantial buried feature all around the motte mound.

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.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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 80m north east of Home Farm survives well and is a good
example of it class. It will retain archaeological information relating to its
construction and occupation. Environmental evidence relating to the landscape
in which it was constructed will survive sealed on the old land surface
beneath the mound 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 manor house which lies adjacent to the motte is of interest.

Source: Historic England