Bowden Watch Hill

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameBowden Watch Hill
Alternative NamesDunham Massey; Castle Hill; Yarwood Castle
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityTrafford
1974 AuthorityGreater Manchester
Civil ParishAltrincham

Well preserved medieval motte and bailey castle situated on a promontory. The motte is 6m high and 40m broad at the base. It is surrounded by a ditch 5m wide which is 3m deep with a possible original ramp or entrance work on the eastern side. The bailey is on the promontory to the east of the motte. It is an enclosed platform in the shape of a triangle with the eastern side 80m long and the other two sides 60m long. The Motte was excavated in 1976, 1977 and in 1985. These excavations suggest that the motte was speedily erected, possibly during the rebellion of Hammon de Massey against Henry II in 1173. A modern boundary stone lies in the bottom of the ditch on the west side of the motte. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Isolated from settlement but does overlook a crossing point of the River Bollin. The archaeology, history and location do suggest this may well be a military castle, built for the military reason of controlling a river crossing, although that control would allow for tax collection. The baronial castle of Hamon de Masci, mentioned by MacKenzie may well have been 'the mount' at Dunham Massey Hall, which is a manorial centre.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSJ748859
Latitude53.3700485229492
Longitude-2.37936997413635
Eastings374850
Northings385970
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Grimsditch, Brian, Nevell, Michael and Nevell, Richard, 2012, Buckton Castle and the Castles of the North West England (University of Salford Archaeological Monograph 2) p. 114
  • Redhead, Norman, 1997, 'Watch Hill Castle' in Mike Nevell (ed), The Archaeology of Trafford (Trafford Metropolitan Borough with University of Manchester Archaeological Unit) p. 34–35
  • Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p. 12
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 181 online copy
  • Ormerod, G., 1819, History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 1 p. 392-3 (tenurial history) online copy

Journals

  • Brown, K. and Johnson, B., 1985, 'Watch Hill, Bowden' The Greater Manchester Archaeological Journal Vol. 1 p. 35–7 online copy