Mirfield Castle Hall Hill
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Mirfield Castle Hall Hill |
| Alternative Names | Merhall |
| Historic Country | Yorkshire |
| Modern Authority | Kirklees |
| 1974 Authority | West Yorkshire |
| Civil Parish | Mirfield |
Castle Hall Hill motte and bailey castle is situated adjacent to the nineteenth century parish church of St.Mary in Mirfield. The bailey is occupied by the church and its graveyard, both of which are in current ecclesiastical use, and this area is not at present included in the scheduling. The motte, which would have carried a timber keep, is a conical mound c.10m high and with a diameter of c.20m surrounded by a ditch c.8m wide and 5m deep. On the east side the ditch is divided by a causeway which joined the motte to the bailey where ancillary and garrison buildings would have stood along with pens for stock and horses. The castle was built between 1086 and 1159 either by Svein son of Alric or by Adam his son. Its purpose was to oversee some of the estates of the Honour of Pontefract of which these two men were successively the most powerful knights. After Adam's death without male heirs in 1159, the estate was divided and the castle reduced in status. It was not abandoned, however, and was known as the castle of Mirfield throughout the Middle Ages. (Scheduling Report)
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 | SE211204 |
| Latitude | 53.6800384521484 |
| Longitude | -1.68192005157471 |
| Eastings | 421100 |
| Northings | 420440 |
