Monument record 2106/1/1 - Clifford Hill Medieval Motte (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{1} {11} Plans and sections from May 1879

{2} The motte is of exceptional size, standing some 14m high above the surrounding land. Though once circular in plan and regular in form, it is now considerably altered and damaged on its south side, where the steep side has been reduced to a series of rounded and ill-defined terraces and mounds, as a result of landslips. The summit of the motte is flat and featureless, but its former circular shape has been changed, following the collapse of the south side. The mound is surrounded by a large ditch up to 5m deep, but again on the south side there are indications that this ditch has been recut, following the slipping of the side of the motte above it, which perhaps partially filled it. On the north there is a steep drop, which hforms a narrow rampart-like feature, 4m high above the river Nene.On the south is a wide and much spread outer bank which has been interpreted as additional defences. This may have originated as the spoil removed from the block south ditch after the landslip, though its present form is the result of subsequent ploughing.

{10} The mound is round and stands to a height of about 14m and has a basal diameter of approximately 125m. The top of the mound is flat and about 30m across, and is surrounded by a wide, deep ditch up to 5m deep in places. On
the north side of the motte beyond the ditch and alongside the river, lies a bank about 4m high which formed part of the original castle defences. The south side of the motte suffered from a series of landslips soon after it was
constructed, causing the south ditch to be recut. The recutting of this ditch formed a low bank which has since been ploughed. The detailed history of the site is not known, but the present name of the site is recorded in the 13th
century. The summit of the motte saw later use as a bowling green in the 17th century.

{12} Part of the site was dug into in 1900 'but nothing was found that is worth recording'.

{13} Radiocarbon dating of material taken from core samples of the motte mound indicate that it was built in the mid/late 11th to late 12th centuries AD;

<1> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.87 site 28 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<3> Doubleday H A (ed), 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.218 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<4> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.266-67 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.373 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP86SW7 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, 9/106 (unchecked) (Article). SNN9109.

<8> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.149 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<10> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<11> Northampton Museum Records, Dryden: Hepplewhite Cabinet Drawer 8 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<12> The Northamptonshire Exploration Society, 1901-2, The Northamptonshire Exploration Society, Annual Report, (unchecked) (Article). SNN43427.

<13> The Round Mounds Project, 2016, Radiocarbon dates from 10 castle mounds – results of year 1 (Website). SNN111626.

<14> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Sep 3 2019 1:36PM