Aikton Castle, Great Salkeld

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are masonry footings remains

NameAikton Castle, Great Salkeld
Alternative NamesLittle Salkeld; Scatterbeck
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishGreat Salkeld

The site of an ancient castle in a small wood near Scatterbeck. There is a quantity of stones scattered about, but nothing that could be shown on a plan. No information can be obtained as to what period it belongs. (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Object Name Book)

Aikton Castle, named in 1794 (Hutchinson), is situated a quarter of a mile from Salkeld Dyke, and comprises only dry+walled foundations. (Armstrong)(Jefferson)

The site occupies an elevated but non-defensive position and falls in a small plantation. It consists of a complex of collapsed and turf-covered wall foundations, which testify to the former existence of a substantial building but do not form any coherent ground plan. (Surveyed at 1:2500).

There appears to have been no associated earthworks. (F1 BHP 15-AUG-72)

Jackson is dismissive of this site as a defensive structure. Only excavation will determine the nature of the site. (Perriam and Robinson). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Dismissed by Jackson. Called vanished moat by Salter. In Mannix & Whellan, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Cumberland, 1847 it is described as 'a fortified station, called Aikton castle, formed of rough stones, without mortar'. Recorded in Cumbria HER as earthworks of Iron Age and Roman settlement. Seems highly unlikely as a medieval site but clearly an interesting site that deserves proper investigation.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY548380
Latitude54.7352905273438
Longitude-2.70346999168396
Eastings354800
Northings538000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 194
  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 100 (slight)
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press) p. 95
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 94 (possible)
  • Armstrong, A.M., 1950, The Place-Names of Cumberland, part 1 The City of Carlisle, and Eskdale, Cumberland, and Leath Wards (English Place-Name Society 20) p. 238
  • Mannix and Whellan, 1847, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Cumberland (Beverley) p. 305 (Indexed as Roman) online copy
  • Jefferson, S., 1840, History and Antiquities of Leith Ward in the county of Cumberland p. 271
  • Hutchinson, Wm., 1794, The history of the county of Cumberland Vol. 1 p. 283 online copy