Monument record 1795/1 - Shocklach Castle (Moated Enclosure)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ45 SW4 (Index). SCH2487.

A moated enclosure, D-shaped in plan measuring internally 70 m across the chord and 78 m transversely. It is surrounded by a strong ditch, 2.7 m deep in places, now dry but originally waterfilled by damming the S arm through which a stream flows. The modern road now overlies the dam. The enclosure is undoubtedly the site of the fortified manor-house described by Mackenzie (4), but there are no structural remains (DJC 16/03/1976).

<2> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No9 p.59 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Aerial observation of the moated earthwork on the east side of the Fardon to Worthenbury road shows it to have been divided by curving ditch running parallel to moat ditch bounding its northern side. This dividing ditch, which may never have been finished, would have separated a southern almost circular mound from a northern crescent shaped one. The whole complex resembles a small version of Shotwick castle which has a similar circular and crescent shaped mound. This earthwork is presumed to be of the same period and to have been connected to the well preserved motte (CHER 1794/1) in the wood (Castletown Rough) on the west side of the modern Farndon to Worthenbury road.

Aerial observation has also highlighted other features on the earthwork, namely a narrow ditch marking the parish boundary between Caldecott and Church Shocklach (which runs over the crescent shaped mound) and a modern sandpit. There is also a curious small oval enclosure, bounded by a low bank and shallow ditch, which is only clearly discernible with a low sun, sited on the circular mound and partly on the slope of the (?unfinished) dividing ditch. It is possible that the enclosure marks the site of the formerly existing Shocklach windmill but this is unlikely. Local opinion has it that the mill was situated on the castle motte in Castletown Rough and another purpose has to be sought for the oval feature.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.689 (Book). SCH1389.

Shocklach formed an important link in the chain of Cheshire castles between Aldford and Malpas and may have still been "in repair" as late as 1502. The earthworks of the keep are still very strong, and occupy an important pass, near the church, where the present road to Chester crosses a deep ravine, watered by a small brook. The works are like those of Pulford; the brook and ravine, winding in a semicircular form, make a strong defence on the north-west, and a huge mound, also semicircular, completes the lines to the south and cast, being about ten yards in width on the summit, but much wider at the base, and very much extended where the ends meet the bank of the ravine. In the centre is the mound, which once formed the basis of the great tower of the Norman Keep.

<4> Mackenzie J D, 1896, The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. Volume II, p.179 (Book). SCH3090.

Shocklach was a Welsh frontier fortress forming an important link in the chain of Cheshire castles between Aldford and Malpas. Lord Dudley claimed the right in the 15th year of Henry VIIs reign to maintain this castle fortified, ditched and crenellated. The earthworks were very strong, occupying an important pass where the present road crosses a deep ravine. On the eastern side of the road is another raised kite-shaped platform also of ancient formation. No vestigies of masonry remain.

<5> Williams SR, 1970s-1980s, Rhys Williams' Aerial Photographs, 3.099, 3.0102 & 3.0106 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4607.

<6> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13422 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument is situated in a dingle thought to have been one of the ancient trackways utilised by the Welsh in their frequent raids into southern Cheshire. A D-shaped moated enclosure e measuring 54m west-east and surrounded on all sides except the south by a dry ditch. A causeway crosses the ditch and gives access to the platform at the north-east. Earthworks consisting of banks and a ditch are conspicuous on the platform. The monument was originally constructed by the Barons of Malpas c.1100 in an attempt to protect the region from frequent Welsh raids.

<7> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, 3rd Series, vol.XXIV, p.65 [5551] (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

Reports that the farmer was carting away the earth of the mound, and that with it he had filled up part of the fosse and some other hollows in the vicinity.

<8> Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust, Various, Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust Aerial Photographs, CPAT 86.MB 63-633 & 88.MB 179-282 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8090.

<9> Williams S R, 1997, West Cheshire from the Air, p.42-3, 46 (Book). SCH3851.

This was initially thought to be the much-reduced motte of the castle and later thought to be the bailey, despite the raised character of the platform, associated with the motte to the west (CHER: 1794/1). The ditch along the northern side of the platform follows a near-circular curve. The top of the platform is quite high above the bottom of the ditch and the road. This apparent height above ground level probably contributed to the misinterpretation of the feature as a low motte. In contrast to this northern. There probably was no southern ditch as such, the deep stream bed served as an adequate defence. The stream was may have been dammed to provide water for the entire length of the ditch around the platform and remains of this dam have been observed underneath the road.

There are two other possible explanations for the 'bailey' platform. Lord Dudley petitioned King Henry VII and claimed the right to maintain the castle, fortified, ditched and crenelated. This has been interpreted as referring to a later and quite separate fortified manor house on the site. Such a manor house may have existed on the site, but this late record hardly demonstrates that the platform was not part of the original castle complex. The platform is sub-divided by a shallow, possibly unfinished, ditch. One of the divisions has on it a low banked and ditched circular feature reminiscent of a Bronze Age disc barrow. It is likely that the irregular and unusual 'bailey' platform pre-dated the motte and bailey castle. Its form does not suggest it was a Roman feature, but it may well have been a prehistoric one.

<10> Swallow, R, 2013, Two for One: The Archaeological Survey of Shocklach Castle, Cheshire (Article in Journal). SCH7798.

The reduced motte and bailey earthworks to the east at Shocklach are larger and lower than the motte to the west, with the well-preserved motte in the south-east part of the site rising approximately four to five metres in height from the bottom of the ditch. This motte is of a similar size to those at Malpas and Pulford. Furthermore, the kidney-shaped bailey is very similar to that of Pulford castle. This site is also probably the site of the fortified manor house mentioned in 1499. Shocklach castle owed suit and service to the superior manor of Malpas. Although Shocklach is not listed as an early castle in the Welsh March, in 1121 the Welsh burned two castles, which are generally accepted to be those of Shocklach and Malpas. Documentary sources indicate that Shocklach castle had a defensive function until the latter part of the fourteenth century. It is unlikely that that one of the mottes is a siege motte, due to the close proximity of the two sites. However, the location of the two sites, either side of the road and the township boundary, probably represent two separate castles with the lords of both castles wanting a stake in the revenues of the recorded toll gate.

<11> Chapel Archaeology CIC, 2019, Archaeology Resistivity Survey: Shocklach Motte, R4311 (Client Report). SCH8696.

A resistivity survey of Shocklach Motte was carried out on the 4th December 2018 as part of Chapel Archaeology’s Heritage Lottery funded project on the village of Shocklach in Cheshire. The objective of the survey was to identify any structural evidence in the motte. The primary interest of the project is the connection between this site, the adjacent moated enclosure and the isolated medieval church of St. Edith’s.

Although the survey did not identify any archaeological remains on the outer bank of the motte, the report includes a 3D LiDAR image which clearly shows the motte (1794/1), the adjacent moated enclosure (1795/1), and surrounding earthworks, including extensive ridge and furrow cultivation. Additionally, the narrow ditch (parish boundary) and 'curious small oval enclosure', both described by source 2, are also clearly visible.

<12> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0517-8 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.