Northwich Castle Hill

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameNorthwich Castle Hill
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityCheshire
1974 AuthorityCheshire
Civil ParishNorthwich

The Castle Hill area of Northwich derives its name from the site of an ancient fortress commanding the junction of the Dane and the Weaver. The site of the fortress is a triangular field of about 3 acres, bounded on the other side by a small brook. Its present remains consist of 2 high mounds of unequal height and there are no remains of walls, or indications of other earthworks. Excavations have shown the mounds to be natural and earthworks shown on OS plans of the area are terraced gardens. (Cheshire HER)

Castle Northwich derives its name from the site of an ancient fortress the remains of which consist of two mounds. There are no walls or other earthworks (Ormerod). Recent excavations have proved the mounds to be natural (Watkin). The site indicated is on steeply sloping ground covered with grass and trees. It is a most unlikely situation for a castle. No trace was found of the mounds referred to. Earthworks shown on O.S. plans of the area are terraced gardens (Field Investigators Comments–F1 JHW 19-SEP-61). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Medieval sources given by Rickard as to owners and sub tenants in the C13 and C14 probably do not relate to this site but a manor house. Despite the comments in PastScape the site is not impossible as a castle site, it is close to the parish church and major river crossing and almost certainly an administrative centre. Quite how military and fortified even the early manor house was may be of question. It seems fairly clear that the earthworks were not those of a castle but a fortified manorial and administrative site near to this location is a distinct possibility. The castle place-names in the area are taken to refer to a Roman fort but this, of itself, is not evidence of absence of a Norman fortification.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSJ655737
Latitude53.2591400146484
Longitude-2.51935005187988
Eastings365500
Northings373700
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. 111
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 20
  • Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p. 12
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 69
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 356
  • 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., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 177 online copy
  • Watkin, W.T., 1886, Roman Cheshire p. 253
  • Ormerod, G., 1882 (2edn), History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 2, 196
  • Ormerod, G., 1819, History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 3 p. 91-92 (tenurial history) online copy

Journals

  • 1970, CBA Group 5 Vol. 14-15 p. 8-9
  • Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 201-2 online copy

Primary Sources

  • B.M. Harleian M.S. 2074 f.189 (castle derelict by 1199) (Now held by the British Library
  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 140