Monument record 424/1/1 - Medieval Motte (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{1} The motte consists of a large circular mound 7.5m high and formerly surrounded by a ditch up to 2m deep. The latter has been damaged. The summit of the mound was once probably flat but a large L-shaped trench has been cut into it.

{5} Plan.

{6} Fieldname: Round Hill/Reeves Hill Ground.

{7} A flat-topped motte 10m high and surrounded by a ditch up to 2.5m deep x 10m wide.

{10} Lilbourne is just a mile east of the Watling Street and about the same distance from Catthorpe, supposed to represent the Roman Tripontium. Near this part of the road are several tumuli, probably sepulchral, but there is one on a high ridge between Lilbourne and the Street road which seems of a different character called "Round Hill", and is a moated mound about 30ft high x 50ft across at the top. This has been flat, but has been trenched so as to present a tricuspid outline. The concentric ditch is very prefect and seems made for defence, but there is no trace of a base court.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.126 site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Northamptonshire County Council, 1997, Photographs, (checked) (Photographs). SNN52350.

<3> Timmins E.W., 1997, Lilbourne, A brief history, (unchecked) (Website). SNN44073.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP57NE7 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<6> 1932, Fieldnames Overlays (general-needs sorting out into OS quarter sheets), (unchecked) (Map). SNN10076.

<7> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<8> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.507-08 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<9> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

<10> 1878, The Archaeological Journal (35), p.119 (checked) (Journal). SNN287.

Record last edited

Nov 10 2010 2:13PM