Castlefacts³

Ellenthorpe Castle Banks

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

Name	Ellenthorpe Castle Banks
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Yorkshire
Modern Authority	Lancashire
1974 Authority	Lancashire
Civil Parish	Paythorne

Castle Banks, Ellenthorpe. The place-name is recorded on the mid C19 Tithe Apportionment Schedules, and refers to a somewhat abraded motte on a bluff above the north bank of the Ribble, a short distance upstream of a crossing point. It would seem to be the other half of a 'dual system', linked with Castle Haugh (PastScape ref. Higham)

Gatehouse Comments

Higham was providing evidence to assert a particular hypothesis and may well have over stated the evidence here. No field archaeologist or other castle studies expert has identified this river bank buff as a castle site and Higham's 'abraded motte' may well be natural. The 'castle banks' place name may refer to a demense holding of Castle Haugh or just to the motte like topography of the site. However, this could well be the site of a river crossing and Higham's hypothesis, that a sort lived and small taxation point castle was here, may well deserve investigation.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

887168

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/chr/herdetail.aspx?crit=&ctid=90&id=4722

OS Map Grid Reference	SD824498
Latitude	53.943920135498
Longitude	-2.26975989341736
Eastings	382400
Northings	449800