Gunnerton Money Hill

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameGunnerton Money Hill
Alternative NamesDungill Wood; Gunnar Peak Camp
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishChollerton

The motte and bailey castle on Money Hill is a well preserved example of a class of monument which is not common in Northumberland. It will contribute to our knowledge and understanding of the spread of Norman occupation in Britain.

The monument includes a well preserved Norman motte and bailey castle situated in a naturally defended position on the end of a promontory formed by the confluence of the Coal and Gunnerton Burns. The conical motte stands at a height of approximately 5m and measures 30m across at the base and 10m across its circular top. There is a large hollow 3m across at the top of the motte, the result of partial excavation at the end of the 19th century. The mound is surrounded by a ditch 2.5m wide. The accompanying bailey lies to the south and east of the motte and is delineated by the steep slopes of the promontory except for a length of bank at the southernmost tip of the promontory and two broad banks 7m wide, each with a ditch 1.5m across, on the north-east side which is not naturally defended. The latter earthworks are also associated with an original entrance and causeway across the ditch giving access to the motte. (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 ReferenceNY907757
Latitude55.0761108398438
Longitude-2.14591002464294
Eastings390780
Northings575750
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 347-9
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 58
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 200 (slight)
  • Jackson, M.J.,1992, Castles of Northumbria (Carlisle) p. 69 (plan)
  • Rowland, T.H., 1987 (reprint1994), Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles and Bastles of Northumberland (Sandhill Press) p. 7, 11
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 334
  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 179
  • Long, B., 1967, Castles in Northumberland Vol. 4 (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 112
  • Hodgson, John Crawford (ed), 1897, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 4 p. 319 online copy
  • Tomlinson, W.W., 1897, Comprehensive Guide to Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 211-2

Journals

  • Hunter Blair, C.H., 1944, 'The Early Castles of Northumberland' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser4) Vol. 22 p. 116-70 esp 163-4 (plan)
  • Hall, G. Rome, 1885, 'An Account of the Gunnar Peak Camp, North Tynedale, and of Excavations in the Ancient Circular and other Dwellings' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 10 p. 17
  • Hall, G. Rome, 1876, 'British remains near Birtley and Barrasford' Archaeologia Aeliana (ser2) Vol. 7 p. 12 and plan online copy

Other

  • Constable, Christopher, 2003, Aspects of the archaeology of the castle in the north of England C 1066-1216 (Doctoral thesis, Durham University) Available at Durham E-Theses Online