Scheduled Monument: Castle Cob Motte (1011122)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Castle Cob motte PARISH: KINGSLEY DISTRICT: VALE ROYAL COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 22595 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ53387341 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument is Castle Cob motte. It is located on the upper slopes of a hill with commanding views to the east across the Weaver valley. The site includes a steep-sided earthen mound 19m in diameter and up to 2.8m high. The flat top of the motte measures approximately 6m in diameter. Limited antiquarian investigation found the motte to be built of black soil. A garden shed and a timber lean-to are excluded from the scheduling, as are a garden wall, a path and gateposts around the base of the motte, and stone steps and the concrete base of an old summer house on the side of the motte, although the ground beneath all these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE Motte 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-bai1ey 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 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 and motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from most regions. Some 100-150 examples do not have baileys and are classified as motte castles. 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of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle. Despite limited antiquarian investigation, Castle Cob motte survives reasonably well. It is one of a group of early post-Conquest mottes and motte and bailey castles forming a defensive system, the aim of which was to curb raids on the rich farming areas of Cheshire. Equally important was the role these sites played in imposing and demonstrating the new post-Conquest feudal order on the area. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 10th December 1973 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Cheshire 91 NAME: Barrow at Cob Castle, Kingsley The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 22595 NAME: Castle Cob motte SCHEDULING AFFIRMED ON 06th September 1993