Alverstoke Motte, Gosport
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)
There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains
| Name | Alverstoke Motte, Gosport |
| Alternative Names | Alder Moor; Grange Farm; Apple Dumpling |
| Historic Country | Hampshire and the Isle of Wight |
| Modern Authority | Hampshire |
| 1974 Authority | Hampshire |
| Civil Parish | Gosport |
The motte and bailey castle near Apple Dumpling Bridge is well-preserved, remains largely undisturbed and is a good example of its class. The site will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the date and method of construction of the castle, its period of use and subsequent abandonment.
The monument includes a motte and bailey castle overlooking the River Alver south of Rowner, near Gosport, and set on ground which falls from the north towards a drain or stream at the southern edge of the site. The motte is on the higher ground, the mound rising only 2m above the general ground level to the north, but up to 4.5m above the bailey to the south west. The top of the motte is 15m in diameter. A bank, up to 3m wide and rising up to 1.5m above the surrounding ground level, loops around the bailey from the north eastern side of the motte, terminating at a track along the west side of the site. There is slight evidence of a ditch around the north eastern side of the motte, but it is not visible further west and here survives only as a buried feature. The monument was first marked on early Ordnance Survey maps as a 'windmill mound' but was subsequently identified through fieldwork as a motte and bailey castle. Its position overlooking the River Alver, and a probable river crossing, is a typical location for this type of castle. There are no known records of archaeological or other excavation of the site. (Scheduling Report)
The first known defenisve monument in Gosport is a motte and bailey castle known as Castle Mound, perhaps of 11th century date, which probably overlooked an important crossing over the River Alver. It survives today as a motte, over 15m in diameter, which rises to a height of 4.5m above the bailey which is partly embanked. There is also slight evidence for a ditch around part of the motte
Little is known about the relationship of this castle with the surrounding area but it clearly points to the strategic importance of a crossing point over the River Alver. (Hampshire AHBR)
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 Reference | SU584001 |
| Latitude | 50.7976188659668 |
| Longitude | -1.1722799539566 |
| Eastings | 458430 |
| Northings | 100100 |
