Scheduled Monument: Castle Hill Motte, Malpas (1012105)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Castle Hill motte, Malpas PARISH: MALPAS DISTRICT: CHESTER COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 13420 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ48624723 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument at Malpas comprises the remnants of a medieval castle surviving as a truncated earthwork cone, situated at a strategic position on a spur of the Broxton Hills overlooking the town and much of the surrounding countryside. The site was originally home to the Barons of Malpas. The motte lies N of St Oswald's Church, the graveyard of which extends to the S and W sides of the motte. A bailey was probably originally attached to the S side of the motte, but is now indistinct and its site has been considerably disturbed by construction of the church and burials in the churchyard. In view of the uncertainty over the precise location of the bailey and the disturbed nature of this most probable location it is not included in this scheduling. The motte is bounded by a hedge and chestnut fencing and these are excluded from the scheduling. The property boundary and the churchyard boundary to the SE, S and W of the motte are also excluded from the scheduling as is the tarmac lane to the E. The ground beneath all these features, however, is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE Motte and bailey castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte, surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of examples an embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, the bailey, adjoined the motte. Motte castles and motte-and-bailey castles acted as garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte and bailey castles generally occupied strategic positions dominating their immediate locality and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles or motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from most regions. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest monuments, they are particularly important for the study of Norman Britain and the development of the feudal system. Although many were occupied for only a short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle. The motte castle at Malpas is of particular importance as one of a group of early post-conquest (c.1100) mottes forming a defensive system aimed at curbing constant Welsh raids on the rich farming areas of south Cheshire. Equally important, however, was the role these sites played in imposing the new post-conquest feudal order on the area. Whilst the bailey of this site has been destroyed, the motte itself remains in good condition and will retain considerable information relating to its date, use and method of construction. SCHEDULING HISTORY This monument was originally included in the Schedule on 3rd November 1958 as: COUNTY NUMBER: Cheshire 67 NAME: Castle Hill, Malpas The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 13420 NAME: Castle Hill motte, Malpas SCHEDULING AFFIRMED ON 21st March 1991