Monument record 663/2/1 - Castle Hill

Motte or ringwork in the centre of Weedon Lois village. Thought to be contemporary with a motte at Sulgrave dated as late C11th. The remains are tree covered and in poor condition. They now consist of a roughly rectangular raised area, some 2 metres high, with a flat top, but with traces of a low bank along its north side. There are no traces of a ditch. Scheduled

{1} Motte or ringwork (SP 602470) stands in the centre of Weedon Lois village, immediately east of the church and on the west side of The Green, on Boulder Clay at 145m above OD. Nothing is known of the history of this site, but in 1086 Weedon was held by Ghilo who also held the adjoining parishes of Sulgrave and Culworth. The earthworks at Weedon may have resembled ringworks at Culworth [SP 54 NW 10] and Sulgrave [SP 54 NE 6] and the three sites may have been contemporary and constructed by the same man. Excavations at Sulgrave have indicated that the ringwork there was constructed in the late 11th century. The remains are tree-covered and in poor condition; as a result it is almost impossible to recover their original form.They now consist of a roughly rectangular raised area, some 2m high, with a flat top, but with traces of a low bank along its north side. There is no indication of a ditch and the road to the west and the footpath to the south both appear to have been cut back into the original mound. The gardens of the house to the south of the site are also raised to much the same height as the castle mound, and this has led to the suggestion that there may have been a bailey here, but this idea can only be confirmed by excavation. The relationship of the ringwork to the green and to the existing street plan is interesting. It is possible that both the ringwork and the gardens to the south might be encroachments on an older and larger green. Alternatively the green could have evolved from the abandoned castle site in the later medieval period. (a)

{5} A sub-rectangular bank 3-4m high surrounding central area 23m across; interior of mound higher than surrounding land; slight impression of ditch up to 5m wide to east & north east of ringwork in area of green; to west & south line of ditch indicated by modern sunken road

{6} A prominent mount on the village green still marks the site of the baronial castle of the Pinkeneys. The Domesday survey records the family as owning Weedon.

{7} Now in very poor condition. The only traces of stonework are at the south west where there are remains of bridge abutments, which according to the vicar, was called Japanese Bridge - obviously an C18/19th garden feature. Gardens to the west and south are both considerably elevated suggesting possible former baileys.
See 25" survey.

{9} Elevated gardens west & south suggest possible former bailey

{10} Much stone has been removed from the garden of a house called "The Curacy", which is built on the south side of the motte against a very thick stone wall. This wall could possibly be a fragment of the castle

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.163 site 5 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006, (unchecked) (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<3> OS 25 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN14789.

<3> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<4> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, pp.344-5 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<5> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<6> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.112 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<7> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments (Notes). SNN111541.

<8> Rowley, R.T. & Fowler, W.J. (Ed.), 1975, Surveys (The Northamptonshire Parish Survey), 5/28 (checked) (Article). SNN71205.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NW11 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<10> LEWIS K., 1978, Weedon St. Loys: priory and parish, (unchecked) (Book). SNN60105.

<11> OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN14787.

<12> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 8:08PM