Clifton Motte

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameClifton Motte
Alternative Names
Historic CountryWestmorland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishClifton

Possible motte and bailey covered by C12 church (Listed II-star) and church yard, precursor to later tower. (Jackson)

Gatehouse Comments

No mention of possible castle or features other than the church in PastScape. C13 pottery found nearby. It is quite common for churches to built upon mounds or at local high spots. The church at Beaumont, Cumberland, is built on an actual motte and it may be influencing the interpretation of other churches on mounds in Cumbria and beyond. Gatehouse can see no reason that the original medieval manor was not at Clifton Hall.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY531270
Latitude54.6363906860352
Longitude-2.72671008110046
Eastings353190
Northings527050
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Matthew Emmott. All rights reservedView full Sized Image

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 272 (mention)
  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 39
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press) p. 45-6

Journals

  • Fairclough, G., 1980, 'Clifton Hall, Cumbria: Excavations 1977-79' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 80 p. 46, 62 online copy