SNN107411 - Excavation of a Motte and Bailey Castle at Bury Mount, Towcester, Northamptonshire July - September 2007

Bury Mount is the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle which has been the subject of enquiry into the town's Roman and (particularly) its medieval past. The earliest features and deposits preserved beneath Bury Mount are probably of Roman origin. Two substantial pits were excavated which were sealed by buried soils. These began a sequence of deposits which continued through the post-Roman period. They were continually disturbed whilst accumulating new material. New interventions comprised ditches which were allowed to silt naturally during their period of use, being redefined on at least one occasion. They were deliberately backfilled in the late 11th century. Following this a stone building was construted on top of the soil accumulation. It was probably short-lived since a Norman mootte was constructed soon after the Conquest, by mounding up a circular ring of embanked earth which formed the base. The motte was raised using sandy clay and gravels excavated partly from an encircling defensive ditch and other material from further afield. It was tipped onto the ring of earth, raising its height and allowed to spead down into the centre to create a gigantic cone. This was then capped. By the later medieval period the motte was probably disused and it is likely that it remained so until modified during the Civil War. During the 19th century the Mount was planted with trees. Two cottages were cut into the south side and widespread horticulture was in evidence well into the 20th century. The surrounding ditch survived as a 19th century watercourse which was intermittently maintained through the 20th century. The cottages were abandoned and demolished soon after.