Monument record 1836/1/0 - Motte and Bailey Castle, Aldford

Motte & Bailey castle, Aldford. No direct mention of Aldford in Domesday, but part of scattered holding of Bigot de Loges, who took name of Aldford in C12.1st owner to take name of Aldford was Robert de Aldford, who built or refortified castle in stone just before or during reign of Henry II. In 1209 Sir John Ardene succeeded to estate (1).1st direct ref to `Castrum de Aldeford' is 1276 (2).Castle probably had own private chapel, for in C13 probably no village church. Castle and manor remained in arderne family until 1464, when it passed to Stanleys by marriage until 1503.For next 2 centuries it was rented & leased ,castle fell into decay & much of stone was robbed. By end of C18 it had passed to Grosvenor family in whose estate it remains. Both Motte & bailey were planted with trees and, with water-filled bailey ditch, formed a parkland. Within bailey ditch is collapsed remains of arch or short vaulted room, which may have been cistern house or bathhouse (1).

<1> Sale B & Turner R C, 1985, The Motte & Bailey Castle at Aldford (Unpublished Document). SCH3216.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .IV p.77-78 (Book). SCH3228.

<3> Mackenzie J D, 1896, The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. Volume II, 2/162 (Book). SCH3090.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ45NW5/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 2/757-758 (Y) (Book). SCH1389.

<6> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 22486 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<7> Reynolds S, 1993, Survey Report - Chester College (Unpublished Report). SCH3003.

<8> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0527 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.