Skew Hill mote-hill

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameSkew Hill mote-hill
Alternative NamesSkew Bank; Grinsdale Camp
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishKingmoor

Watch Hill, and Skew Hill, approach very closely to the less distinct forms of mote-hill. (VCH 1901)

Gatehouse Comments

Collingwood was writing at a time when many thought mottes were Saxon and therefore were pre-Conquest earthworks although castle studies writers seem to have ignored his chapter in the VCH. The information given by Collingwood in the VCH, where he is suggesting a number of possible mottes, is scant. Gatehouse can not find a Skew Hill place name in Cumberland but this seems to be a probable Iron Age hill fort on Skew Bank called Grinsdale Camp in the Cumbria HER. The fact no other castle studies writer has identified this as a possible castle site is significant and it can be rejected.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY375584
Latitude54.9171981811523
Longitude-2.97570991516113
Eastings337510
Northings558450
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Collingwood, W.G., 1901, 'Remains of the pre-Norman Period' in H.Arthur Doubleday (ed), VCH Cumberland Vol. 1 p. 293 online copy