Tempeston; The Moat
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Tempeston; The Moat |
| Alternative Names | Beguildy The Moat; Tempseter |
| Historic Country | Shropshire |
| Modern Authority | Shropshire |
| 1974 Authority | Shropshire |
| Civil Parish | Bettws y Crwyn |
The motte and bailey castle south west of The Moat is a well-preserved example of this class of monument. Extensive remains of the structures which stood on the motte and within the bailey are expected to survive, and together with the associated artefacts and organic remains will provide valuable evidence about the activities and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. Organic remains surviving under the motte, the bailey banks, and within the ditches, will also provide information about the changes to the local environment and the use of the land before and after the castle was constructed. The monument remains a prominent feature within the landscape.
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a motte and bailey castle, situated on the northern side of the valley of the River Teme. It is at the end of a spur of land defined on its north eastern flank by a steep slope created by a stream which flows into the Teme. From this location there are commanding views of the Teme valley and the surrounding uplands. The flat- topped, steep-sided circular motte stands about 7m high and measures approximately 32m across at its base and 12m across the top. It is encircled by a ditch. The bailey, which measures approximately 24m by 28m internally, is defined on its northern side by the steep slope formed by the stream. It is bounded on its southern and eastern sides by a bank and an outer ditch, with a counterscarp bank to the east. A 3m wide causeway into the bailey is situated at the south western corner of the enclosure, between the motte ditch and the bailey defences. (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 | SO188805 |
| Latitude | 52.4166984558105 |
| Longitude | -3.19527006149292 |
| Eastings | 318820 |
| Northings | 280510 |
