Monument record 3250/2 - Beacon Hill motte castle and later post mill

Beacon Hill motte castle lies in the centre of the village of Wollaston, just to the south of the church. The conical mound of the motte is over 6 metres high, with a base diameter of approximately 60 metres and a flat summit of about 24 metres across. The motte ditch is still apparent on the south side and, during small scale excavations in 1961-2, the ditch was found to be up to 3.5 metres deep. Pottery of the 12th century was also discovered, together with the remains of a 12th century stone building which stood on the summit. This building is considered to be the remains of an early stone castle, which was destroyed soon after it was built, and traces of an even earlier structure were found beneath it. It is also known that a post mill was sited on the motte in the 13th to 15th centuries. There is no record of a bailey being attached to the castle but this may have been destroyed by later building on the site. Scheduled.

{1} Earthwork of medieval motte at Wollaston; oval mound 60m x 50m & north-south aligned; 5m high with flat top 25-30m across; traces of ditch to south side but no indication of bailey; however a modern curving building line shown on 1774 map may indicate a small bailey no more than 30m across on the north side; 6inch plan;

{6} Excavation in 1961-2 by D.N.Hall; medieval motte of Wollaston; A C12th stone building was revealed on summit of mound but destroyed soon after; traces of earlier structure found under mound; C13th windmill erected on mound was removed in C15th.

{11} Beacon Hill motte castle lies in the centre of the village of Wollaston, just to the south of the church. The conical mound of the motte is over 6m high, with a base diameter of approximately 60m and a flat summit about 24m across. The motte ditch is still apparent on the south side and, during small scale excavations in 1961-2, the ditch was found to be up to 3.5m deep. Pottery of the 12th century was also discovered, together with the remains of a 12th century stone building which stood on the summit. This building is considered to be the remains of an early stone castle, which was destroyed soon after it was built, and traces of an even earlier structure were found beneath it. It is also known that a post mill was sited on the motte in the 13th to 15th centuries. There is no record of a bailey being attached to the castle but this may have been destroyed by later building on the site.

{12} A castle was added during the reign of Stephen, and a Priory, linked to Delapre Abbey, (c.1140) was established.

{17} Excavated by Hall who dates the motte to the 12th c. The castle itself was supplanted by a windmill in the 13th c and the said documentary evidence shows this was removed in the late 15thc.

The surviving earthworks comprise the mound with a ditch to the south. Building in the village would have removed all traces of a bailey if ever there was one. Published survey (25") revised.

{19, 20} As well described above, a Medieval motte is visible as earthworks on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data and was mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 181 (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.464 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<3> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.431; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.199 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<5> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.58 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<6> 1970, Medieval Archaeology (14), 14/176 (Journal). SNN38358.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP96SW17 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<8> The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1853, Archaeologia (35), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN58177.

<9> George T.J., 1904, An Archaeological Survey of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Index). SNN10170.

<10> 1974, EVENING TELEGRAPH, (unchecked) (Journal). SNN57354.

<11> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8), 08/11/1995 (Schedule). SNN104787.

<12> Richards K., 2001, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wollaston (Report). SNN101566.

<13> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006 (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<14> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<15> Ashworth H.; Turner C., 1999, Land Off Dando Close, Wollaston, Northamptonshire: Evaluation Report (HN224) (Report). SNN74276.

<16> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 25" 1900 (Map). SNN112944.

<17> BHS, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 4-AUG-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<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. 318 (Book). SNN112899.

<19> Vertical Aerial Photograph, US/7GR/LOC334 V 5002 31-MAY-1944 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<20> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, LIDAR SP 9062 Environment Agency 1m DTM 04-JUL-2006–03-AUG-2017 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<21> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP, MD003015 (Archive). SNN113023.

<22> Historic England, Undated, 12TH CENT. MOTTE,LATER SITE OF WINDMILL, P30244 (Archive). SNN113289.

Record last edited

Apr 28 2022 2:18PM