Wodowbank Cop

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameWodowbank Cop
Alternative NamesCaernarvon; Wotobank; Wodobank; Wodabank
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishSt John Beckermet

Alleged remains of a motte at Wodowbank Cop. (PastScape)

According to Crawford, the east part of the site has been removed for a railway cutting. A modern water tank has been installed at the south edge. The owner has made several attempts at excavating the site. (PastScape–ref. Perriam and Robinson)

Gatehouse Comments

The site is clearly marked as a small round feature on the OS map of 1867 (Before the construction of the railway.), and as an even smaller mound on the modern OS map. A slight mound can be made out on the air photo, but no hints of ditches or possibly bailey. King (1983) appears to have confabulated his record for this site (which he accepts as a 'possible' motte) with Caernarfon Castle, Beckermet which he rejects as a 'low shapeless mound.' The is also a possibility of other authors confabulating this site, Caernarfon Castle (aka Coneygarth Cop) and Coneyside Cop all in Beckermet. Map references, not names, should be used to identify these sites.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY010081
Latitude54.4594192504883
Longitude-3.52805995941162
Eastings301040
Northings508190
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 108
  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 29
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 94 (possible)
  • Crawford, G. and George, C., 1983, Archaeological Survey of Copeland (Kendal; W D Biggs) p. 23
  • Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 13) p. 38
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Collingwood, W.G., 1901, 'Remains of the pre-Norman Period' in H.Arthur Doubleday (ed), VCH Cumberland Vol. 1 p. 291 online copy
  • Jefferson, S., 1849, The Antiquities of West Cumberland (Carlisle)
  • Jefferson, S., 1842, The History and Antiquities of Allendale Ward (Carlisle) p. 15 (etymology of the name Wotobank only) online copy