Shocklach Oldcastle

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameShocklach Oldcastle
Alternative NamesShocklatch; Shockleach; Shockleach; Castletown Bridge
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityCheshire
1974 AuthorityCheshire
Civil ParishCaldecott

A well preserved motte, situated on the edge of a steep ravine. The mound rises 4.0 m above the bottom of the ditch, which has a counterscarp bank. (PastScape)

Shotlack was a Welsh frontier fortress forming an important link in the chain of Cheshire castles between Alford and Malpas. Lord Dudley claimed the right in 15 Hen VII to maintain this castle fortified, ditched and crenellated. The earthworks were very strong, occupying an important pass where the present road to Chester crosses a deep ravine. On the W side of the road is a very early circular mound 20' high, on the top of which the Normans placed their keep. On the E side of the road is another raised kite-shaped platform also of ancient formation. No vestiges of masonry now remain. (PastScape–ref. Clark)

There is no real reason to think the Norman castle ever had masonry, despite Clark's comment.

The Shocklach 'moat' and Shocklach Oldcastle are recorded on the same record in the PastScape.

Gatehouse Comments

Swallow (2013/14) shows this was not a precursor site to the moat. These two sites were separate motte and bailey castles, held by different owners and, possibly, concurrent with each other. They were in different manors and the probably manorial boundary was the road between the two sites. This road, at this point, is recorded as having a toll gate from at least 1290 and the two castle may have been built to control this route and for the income the tolls generated.

- 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 ReferenceSJ433508
Latitude53.0513305664063
Longitude-2.84657001495361
Eastings343300
Northings350800
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. 113
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 21
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 17 (slight)
  • Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p. 10
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 68
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 179-80 online copy
  • Clark, G.T., 1884, Mediaeval Military Architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol. 1 p. 179 online copy
  • Ormerod, G., 1882 (2edn), History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 689
  • Ormerod, G., 1819, History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 376-9 online copy

Journals

  • < >Swallow, Rachel, 2013/14, 'Two for one: The archaeological survey of Shocklach Castle, Cheshire' Cheshire History Vol. 53 p. 18-44 < >
  • Williams, S.R., 1983, 'Church Shocklach. Castletown: the “moated” site' Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin Vol. 9 p. 59-61
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  • Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 202 online copy

Other

  • Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk North West Register 2016 (London: Historic England) p. 8 online copy
  • Historic England, 2015, Heritage at Risk North West Register 2015 (London: Historic England) p. 10 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 11 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2013, Heritage at Risk Register 2013 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 10 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2012, Heritage at Risk Register 2012 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 26 online copy