Pulford Castle
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)
There are earthwork remains
Name | Pulford Castle |
Alternative Names | Poulefourd; Pulsford |
Historic Country | Cheshire |
Modern Authority | Cheshire |
1974 Authority | Cheshire |
Civil Parish | Pulford |
Motte and bailey castle surviving as an earthwork, comprising a mound with a strong encircling earthwork, except on the south where the defence is the Pulford brook. Mentioned in late C12. Garrisoned in 1403 (This reference, from Ormerod, is not absolutely certain; the owner was told to go to his estates and guard them, but the castle does not seem to be mentioned). Camden writes "Poulefourd, where in the reigne of Henrie the Third Sir Raulph of Ormesby had his Castle"
Pulford Castle. First mentioned in the late C12. The manor belonged to the Canons of St Werburgh and to Hugh Fitz Osbern in 1086. Later the Ormesbees and the Pulfords held it between them. C.1245 the Ormesbees granted their share of the manor and castle to the Pulfords. In 1403 Sir Thomas le Grosvenor was ordered by Henry IV to hold Pulford Castle against Owen Glendower. Castle is situated on the north bank of Pulford Brook immediately southwest of St Mary's churchyard. The earthworks are well preserved. (Cheshire HER)
Motte of Pulford Castle. Motte is 3m high, 9m across the top W-E and 11m N-S. Slopes south towards the stream which serves as southern boundary of the site's defences. There has been a certain amount of soil slip and old sheep paths on the south side of the motte. The motte is surrounded by a shallow ditch 5-6m wide on all sides except the south, where the stream lies. Traces of outer bank to the SE of Motte and substantial bank between stream and bailey. Bailey lies to NW of Motte. (Cheshire HER)
mentioned in a document of about 1190-1200 (Tudor copy in Lincoln Archives Office, M.M. 1/3/1) when one Hacon agreed to hold Lincolnshire lands – et faciet servicium unius militis ad custodiam de Pulford scilicet per quadragesime dies unoquoque anno. (Renn 1973)
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 | SJ375587 |
Latitude | 53.1217613220215 |
Longitude | -2.93494009971619 |
Eastings | 337530 |
Northings | 358700 |