Ashton Motte
Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte Ringwork)
There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains
| Name | Ashton Motte |
| Alternative Names | Lane End Farm |
| Historic Country | Cheshire |
| Modern Authority | Cheshire |
| 1974 Authority | Cheshire |
| Civil Parish | Ashton Hayes |
The earthwork at Ashton is possible a ring-motte, but it is much obscured on the W and N by buildings etc. the site was trenched by the farmer in 1950 when the base of a rough stone wall to the east was found. Fragments of coal were found behind it, and Mr Webster (the curator, Grosvenor Museum) suggested it was probably a boundary wall of late date (oral information). A probable small motte, situated upon a low ridge south of Ashton. The earthwork, 30,0m in diameter at the base, 1.2m high, with a flat top, 14.0m across, has been reduced and spread by ploughing and has been cut into on the N by farmyard walls. There are no traces of a periphery bank and Webster's and Thompson's ring-motte classification cannot be substantiated. A scarp, 0.6 to 0.8m high, 20.0m S of the mound, may possibly represent the outer lip of a ditch but is more likely to be natural (F3 ASP 06-SEP-76).
On a low ridge on the S edge of Ashton village, are the very mutilated remains of an alleged motte. The site has been flattened by farm access from the NE, and by activity around farm buildings on the west. The whole has been puddled by cattle Tread. Because of this activity, and due to the proximity of the road, the form and overall dimensions are difficult to establish, but viewed from the southwest it appears as a pronounced swelling in the corner of the field. To the E a spread scarp falling to the N has been interpreted as a ditch, but the feature sits uncomfortably with the "motte", and seems too angular to be a convincing ditch. In the absence of historical reference, the interpretation of the feature as a motte is unwise, and its function, and antiquity must be left open to question (F4 WRWN 12-FEB-87). (PastScape)
Not scheduled
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | SJ505690 |
| Latitude | 53.2160186767578 |
| Longitude | -2.74212002754211 |
| Eastings | 350550 |
| Northings | 369040 |
