Monument record 423/1 - Lilbourne Castle

The earthwork remains of a Motte and bailey castle with a second low mound and probable fishpond

{1} The castle appears to control the river crossing. Nothing is known of its date or its history but the two stages of development visible in the surivivng earthworks suggest that it may have started as a small motte and bailey of the late 11th century and was then rebuilt and strengthened perhaps in the mid 12th century.

{2} There is a further 1m high bank on the outer edge of the south side of the bailey. To the north east of the motte stands a second smaller bailey, oval in shape, surrounded by a ditch, with a slight inner bank on the south east side. To the north east is a small rectangular fishpond connected by channels to the bailey ditches.

{4} The earthworks of the motte and bailey castle are well preserved as a result of land being used as pasture. Visual inspection of several slumps around the monument revealedt that it was constructed from clayey alluvium with a moderate inclusion of gravel. It is almost certain that the castles superstructure was constructed from timber. Therefore postholes and pits comprise the earthbound features.

{5} Letter to Graham Cadman, of Northants Heritage by E. W. Timmins. 3 page A4 typed letter going into history of the Motte-and-Bailey. Various sources quoted.

{6} The castle at Lilbourne was put in a strategic position to control the Oxford Way where it crossed the Avon, as well as to command the east-west road to Hunsbury. Later it formed part of a defensive network set up by Robert Mellent, Earl of Leicester, centred on his castle at Mountsorrel, which by the reign of Stephen in the 12th century had come under the command of the Earls of Leicester.The motte and the first bailey were encircled by a wet moat fed from the river. A second and larger bailey with a dry moat was built at a later date on the south side of the motte, with fortified look-out posts at the two southern corners. This bailey accommodated living quarters on a permanent basis. The"keep" on the top of motte, and the defences of the court of "baileys" were made of timber, and when in 1218 Henry III ordered the castle to be "prostrated" by having the defences thrown down, it was almost certainly done by setting the timbers on fire. By then its use could havew been only for living quarters, and it was leased by the Camvilles to Robert de Gaugy. The de Camvilles eventually abandonded Lilbourne castle as a residence and established their bailiff in a more suitable Hall in the village, but its location has not yet been found.

{16} Rapid site visit. Site being grazed by sheep. Generally well maintained pasture. Series of photos taken to enable comparison of extent and nature of erosion to the earthworks. Generally it appears that erosion scars are much the same as 4 years ago with no evidence of further significant deterioration. Indeed there is some visible, is small improvement across much of the site.

{22} [Centred SP 56117747] CASTLE [GT] (site of)

{23} Good account with some historical background, and plan (q.v.). No documentary mention - probably adulterine.

{24} Earthwork as descibed above, and in good condition. Surveyed at 1/2500.

{25} Listed by Cathcart King.

{30} Plans, sections, notes;

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 126 site 2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP57NE6 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> RYLATT J, 1997, Lilbourne Castle, Northamptonshire: a survey of the earthworks, (unchecked) (Dissertation). SNN72869.

<5> Timmins E.W., 1974, Lilbourne Church and Castle, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN40409.

<6> Timmins E.W., 1997, Lilbourne, A brief history, (unchecked) (Website). SNN44073.

<7> 1933, The Archaeological Journal (90), p.380 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN8831.

<8> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, Parish Files (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<9> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.507-08 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<10> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP5577/002 (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<11> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP5677/001-26 (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<12> Clark G.T., 1878, The Earthworks of Brinklow, Lilbourne and Earls Barton, p.112-119 (unchecked) (Series). SNN43998.

<13> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<14> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006, (unchecked) (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<15> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.571 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<16> Cadman, G., 2003, Lilbourne Castle, (checked) (Note). SNN106860.

<17> Cadman, G., 2003, Lilbourne Castle, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN106861.

<20> The Ancient History of Lilbourne, (unchecked) (Typescript). SNN108805.

<21> Petrie, J, 2019, Mottes and 'Ringworks', Wednesday 10th April 2019 (Gazetteer). SNN111445.

<22> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1899-1950 (Map). SNN112944.

<23> 1878, The Archaeological Journal (35), p. 117-8 (Journal). SNN15197.

<24> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 13-MAR-1970 (Notes). SNN111541.

<25> 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. 316 (Book). SNN112899.

<26> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP 106G/UK/636 4160-1) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<27> Aerial Photograph, A/P (CUAP AGU82 AKP62 AWQ5) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<28> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889368/889374 (Archive). SNN112900.

<29> Historic England, ARCH J/XXXV/1878,ARCH J/XC/1933, P10627 (Photographs). SNN114555.

<30> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/172/1,2 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Sep 18 2024 2:06PM