Monument record 805/1/1 - Motte, Fotheringhay Castle

{1} Earthworks of a medieval/ post medieval motte and bailey castle. The original motte and inner bailey are in good condition but the moated outer court is mutilated. The motte is 7m high, 70m in diameter and 30m across its top, and is bounded and the north and west sides by a moat. The outer bailey is surrounded on three sides by a moat. There are additional earthworks to the south east of the outer bailey.

(6) The irregular surface on the top of the motte indicates the remains of a stone keep. A ditch probably originally surrounded the motte, and a ditch of similar size surrounds the inner and outer bailey areas. The subrectangular inner bailey measures 65 x 50m and traces of an earthern rampart remain. At the north east corner of the outer bailey are the remains of a sluice gate associated with the water-management system of the bailey ditches. The outer bailey ditch on the north and west sides has been largely filled in. Aerial photos: NCCAP:TL0693/026-28

{10} Geophysical survey found traces of the former moat where it had been backfilled around the eastern side of the motte, presumably in connection with the enlargement of the castle in the late 14th century. The magnetic reading were not particularly strong for such a large feature. Around the western side of the motte the moat was partly filled in the late 19th century.

{11}Attempt to locate internal features to assist with an interpretation project on the castle. The best results came from the Inner Bailey where the previous layout of buildings could be reconstructed by combining the results of magnetometer and resistivity survey with a descriptive survey of 1625. No significant results were obtained from the summit of the motte, which appeared to have been extensively disturbed in the past, or from the outer bailey.
The readings on the motte summit would seem to confirm a history of stone robbng and previous excavation.

{12} Unstratified pot and roof and floor tile collected from TL0617 9299. 5 sherds of pot and 4 fragments of tile including glazed floor and roof tile and 1 fragment of mortar. Many other fragments of mortar and limestone present but not recovered.

{13}Pottery report for the sherds found in at the inspection earlier in 1998.(0692011) Inner Bailey u/s: c.TL 0623/9294 - 1 sherd St Neots-type; CTS fabric 100/200. NW side of Motte u/s: c.TL 0617/9299 - 1 sherd Lyveden/Stanion; CTS fabric 319, 3 sherds unidentified - Leicestershire?, 2 fragments of Medieval floor tile, 1 lump of lime mortar. Unmarked bag: 1 sherd Lyveden/Stanion; CTS 319, 1 frag roof tile, 1 frag floor tile, both glazed.

{20} Earthwork survey and discussion of remains of the castle

Parry, S, 2019, Aerial and geophysical surveys at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire, October 2017-May 2018 (Report). SNN111625.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.43-7/Site 34 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09SE5 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.211 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.570-74 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Anon, 1787, History and Antiquities of Fotheringhay, (unchecked) (Book). SNN47494.

<6> FOARD G.R., 1984, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN50937.

<7> Northamptonshire Notes and Queries (Series 1), 1/13 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN6083.

<8> Stukeley W., 1776, Itinerarium Curiosum, (unchecked) (Series). SNN55468.

<9> 1955, ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES, 50 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55588.

<10> Masters, P., 1991, Geophysical Survey at Fotheringhay Castle, Fotheringhay, Northants 1991, (checked) (Report). SNN40394.

<11> Shaw M. (Editor), 1992, CBA Group 9 Report for Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit: Contracts Section, 36 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN48018.

<12> Cadman, G.E., 1998, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49625.

<14> BONNEY, 1821, FOTHERINGHAY, 18-33 (Uncertain). SNN60175.

<15> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<16> DICKINSON, 1956, HISTORIC FOTHERINGHAY, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55570.

<17> BROADSIDES, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN60123.

<18> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P119 (Checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<19> IVENS R.J., 2007, Report on An Archaeological Watching Brief at Castle Farm, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, 2007, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN106007.

<20> Albion Archaeology, 2002, Fotheringhay Castle, 'Little Park' and Adjacent Earthworks, Northamptonshire, pp.22-24 (checked) (Report). SNN102585.

<21> Foard, G. and Britnell, T., 2003, Fotheringhay: A New Perspective from the 1640's, pp.140-3 (checked) (Article). SNN103924.

<22> Foard, G, 1987, Fotheringhay Motte (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN111321.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2019 1:57PM