Monument record 4745/1 - Castle Mount, Alderton

Probable Medieval ringwork, possibly containing a motte, mentioned in 13th century documents, but thought to have late 11th or early 12th-century origins. A surrounding ditch remains up to 5m deep but modern housing has encroached on part of the site. On a map of 1726 the ditch is shown as filled with water and the area is called Castle Mound. Between 1154 and 1204 it was in the stewardship of Malquencu (sub Warrenne). Scheduled.

{1}Article about Derek Batten owner of The Mount, Alderton.

{3} Motte or Ringwork (SP 740469) usually known as The Mount, stands on high ground on th NE side of Alderton village, on Great Oolite Limestone at 100 m. above OD. It consists of a roughly triangular area raised only about 1 m. above the adjacent land, but surrounded by a very large ditch up to 5 m. deep below a well-marked inner rampart or bank which itself is 1 m. - 1.5 m. above the interior. The ditch has been largely destroyed on the SW side and modern houses now occupy its line. However even in the early years of this century no ditch was visible here. Bridges, writing in about 1720, said the 'the entrance...seems to have been on the western side'. Presumably he was referring to the gap in the inner rampart in the centre of the SW side, but this gap does not appear now to be an entrance. The interior is uneven and very overgrown and no features are visible apart from a sloping platform 0.5 m. high on the SE side. On a map of 1726 the ditch is shown as filled with water and the area is called Castle Mound. Nothing is known of its history apart from some 13th century references to it but it appears to be of 11th or 12th century date.

{4} The outer ditch was filled with water in 1726.

{5} The castle, mentioned in documents in the 13th c, stood at the N end of Alderton. It is now called the Mount, and occupies about two acres. It is encompassed with a deep ditch.

{6} Field names: Castle Mound and The Mount

{7} At Alderton there is a rough three sided enclosure known locally as the Mount. The entrenchments consist of one ditch on the N and SE sides with the ballast thrown inwards to form one rampart. It must be classed as a motte-type castle. Ditch has not been visible to the south west for some time.

{9} The pottery from the site suggests that the Mount was established and in regular use by the 11th century, and that the site reached its peak in the 13th century and appeared to go into decline after this date. This appears to coincide with the amalgamation of the manor of Alderton with Stoke Bruerne.

{13} The ringwork known as The Mount is located on high ground on the north eastern side of Alderton village, just to the north of St Margaret's church. The monument has a sub-rectangular bank approximately 1m high enclosing a central area which is about 50m across. A large ditch, up to 10m wide and 5m deep, is apparent around the ringwork on all but the south west side. The uneven interior of the ringwork is slightly raised above the surrounding ground surface and is considered to preserve below ground remains of buildings. The early history of The Mount is not clear, but it is mentioned in 13th century records and is considered to be of late 11th century or early 12th century date. On a map of 1726 the ditch around the ringwork is shown filled with water and the area is called Castle Mound.

{16} An exceptionally strong ring castle situated in a commanding position. The work is tree covered and well preserved apart from the south-west flanking ditch which has, in part, been obliterated by modern development. Published survey (25") revised.

{17} Ringwork at Alderton. Class A defences.

{18} Listed by Cartcart King.

<1> 1997, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, (unchecked) (Article). SNN44154.

<2> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 62 site 5 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> 1726, Northamptonshire Record Office map of Alderton 1726, (unchecked) (Map). SNN59325.

<5> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.120 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<6> 1958, OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN21550.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.403 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<8> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006, (unchecked) (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<9> Hirst, K., 2006, An Archaeological Investigation at The Mount, Alderton, Northamptonshire, p.26 (checked) (Report). SNN106479.

<10> 2000, The King Of The Castle, (checked) (Article). SNN101180.

<11> Zeepvat B., 1999, The Mount, Alderton, Grafton Regis, Northants: A method statement for geophysical and earthworks surveys, (checked) (Report). SNN106500.

<12> Fielding, B, 2000, Time Team dig at Alderton Mount, 2000 (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN111082.

<13> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<14> Klein, JS, 2014, The Mount, History and Archaeology (Note). SNN111447.

<15> Petrie, J, 2019, Mottes and 'Ringworks', Wednesday 10th April 2019 (Gazetteer). SNN111445.

<16> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 28-AUG-1970 (Notes). SNN111540.

<17> edited by A J Taylor, 1969, Chateau Gaillard: Conference at Battle, Sussex, 19-24 September 1966, p. 118 (Journal). SNN116080.

<18> Cathcart King, D J, 1983, Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands, p. 315 (Book). SNN112899.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:05PM