Malpas Castle Hill

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameMalpas Castle Hill
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityCheshire
1974 AuthorityCheshire
Civil ParishMalpas

The Castle of Malpas has long been destroyed, and only the circular mound, 40 yds in diam., remains. The Castle ditch has been traced for some distance (Mackenzie 1897). The church,formerly a private chapel to the castle, was once within the castle precincts (Kenyon 1888-90).

This is a motte, it has an average height of 3.7m. and is grass covered. There is no trace of a bailey or of a ditch. Published survey (25") checked and found correct (F1 TPW 20-OCT-64). (PastScape)

Castle Hill was the site of keep of Norman Castle of Barons of Malpas. Castle covered good deal of neighboring ground & church was within castle precinct. Nothing of the Norman Castle is now visible, except for a mound which is160ft in diam. Kenyon suggests church a private chapel to castle but in view of church's previous importance this seems unlikely. Castle ditch has been traced for some distance. Motte has average height of 3.7m & is grass covered. No trace of bailey or ditch. Large truncated earthwork cone situated in strategic position on a spur of the Broxton Hills. Motte lies N of St Oswald's church and graveyard extends to S & W sides of the site. Bailey was probably originally attached to the south side of Motte but the area is heavily disturbed and not included in scheduled area. (Cheshire HER)

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 ReferenceSJ486472
Latitude53.0199813842773
Longitude-2.76719999313354
Eastings348630
Northings347220
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Grimsditch, Brian, Nevell, Michael and Nevell, Richard, 2012, Buckton Castle and the Castles of the North West England (University of Salford Archaeological Monograph 2) p. 110
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 20
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 17 (slight)
  • Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p. 10
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 68
  • Ridgway, Maurice Hill, 1958, 'Medieval Castles' in Sylvester, D. and Nulty, G. (eds), The Historical Atlas of Cheshire (Cheshire Community Council) p. 24-5
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England Vol. 2 p. 176-7 online copy
  • Ormerod, G., 1882 (2edn), History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 595
  • Ormerod, G., 1819, History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 328- (tenurial history) online copy

Antiquarian

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  • Harrison, 1907, Journal of the Chester and North Wales Architectural Archaeological and Historic Society Vol. 25 p. 151
  • Kenyon, Rev. W.T., 1888-90, Journal of the Chester and North Wales Architectural Archaeological and Historic Society Vol. 3 p. 163
  • Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 201 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 139