Castlefacts³

Kinton Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

SJ 37091946. In the gardens immediately NNE of Castle Cottages, Kinton, is a mound, 32.0m in diameter and 2.0m high, the SE side of which has been cut away. Situated on a NW-SE ridge it is in a commanding position suitable for a motte. There is no evidence of a bailey. Found during field investigation (F1 MHB 19-APR-72). (PastScape)

An oval shaped motte at Kinton occupies a slightly elevated position with extensive views of the surrounding area. Its location is similar to that of the motte castle near Wilcot Hall just over 1km to the south east with which it may have been associated. The south eastern part of the motte at Kinton has been cut away and the ground level reduced to form a domestic garden. The portion of the mound that remains has also been considerably reduced in height by gardening, and now stands 1.5m high. Outbuildings for the adjacent cottages have been constructed into the southern part of the mound. From the Ordnance Survey mapped depiction it would appear that original dimensions of the mound were apx 30m by 35m across its base and hence would only have been large enough to support a watch tower. There is no visible indication of the surrounding ditch, but this will survive as a buried feature and is likely to be about 5m wide (Reid Malcolm L. 1999-Sep-07. MPP Non-Scheduling Alternative Action Report). (Shropshire HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Kinton was a township in the large Domesday manor of Nessham_. Presumably the mound represents the holding of a sub-tenant owing some military service (The manor of Ness owed one and half knights fee). This would have been a small hall with farm buildings adjacent to the mound possible enclosed with a fence but otherwise undefended. The mound would have been surmounted by a tower the function of which would have been mainly symbolic. Although these are often described as 'watch towers' such a small manor would not have been able to afford the cost of maintaining a watchman and, as with many such mottes, in times of trouble the soldier associated with the mound would have been required to be elsewhere; It would though allow this sub-tenant to view his holdings and associated peasants at work in the fields.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

66476

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSA804&resourceID=1015

OS Map Grid Reference	SJ370194
Latitude	52.769229888916
Longitude	-2.93379998207092
Eastings	337090
Northings	319460