Clifford Old Castleton

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte Ringwork), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NameClifford Old Castleton
Alternative NamesCastellaria de Cliford
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishClifford

Medieval motte and bailey seen as earthworks. The motte is 40 metres in diameter. The bailey measures 60 metres east to west by 40 metres north to south and is bounded by a large rampart, 11 metres to 20 metres in width and 2 to 4 metres in height internally but rising to 3.5 metres to 4 metres above the base of an outer ditch, 10 metres in width and 1.8 to 3 metres in depth. The original entrance is through the south side. The castle may have been built between 1067 and 1070. Worcester-type cooking pot fragments have been recovered from the spoil of a badger sett on the site and date from 1100 at the earliest. (PastScape)

'The configuration of the site would suggest that a natural ridge above the River Wye was chosen as a suitable place for a defensive structure. It is also possible that the site was located from the river, because it is known to flood up to the bottom of the ridge... The first structure built was the ring-work possibly making a defended enclosure for a garrison in hostile country. It has been suggested that this site was chosen to guard the north entrance to the Golden Valley as a precursor to the more established stone castle at Clifford (Purser 1994. 73). This would obviously date the site to pre-1071 as part of fitz Osbern's control measures. At a later stage, possibly post 1100 but probably 1140-1180, the motte was added, possibly as a private fortress for the owner, possibly as a watch tower. It is possible that the site may have been a riverside castle; possibly a change in the river's course may have led to the decline of this site.' (Phillips)

Gatehouse Comments

Salter writes may have footings of curtain wall.

- Philip Davis

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 ReferenceSO283456
Latitude52.1051712036133
Longitude-3.0475800037384
Eastings328300
Northings245600
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 90-1
  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) p. 280-2 Download from ADS
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 35
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 103 (slight)
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 2
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 203
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 21
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 209
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 144
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. xxxvi, 38-9 No. 2 (plan) online transcription
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 234-5

Journals

  • Purser, T.S., 1994, 'Castles of Herefordshire, 1066-1135' Medieval History Vol. 4 p. 72-90
  • Halliwell, P. (ed), 1991, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 56 p. 26-7 (plan)
  • Sterling Brown, R., 1988, 'Preliminary Results of Castle Survey' Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 50 p. 41
  • Renn, D.F., 1964, 'The first Norman Castles in England 1051-1071' Château Gaillard Vol. 1 p. 125-132
  • 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
  • Marshall, G., 1938, 'The Norman Occupation of the Lands in the Golden Valley. Ewyas, and Clifford, and their Motte and Bailey Castles' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p. 155 online transcription

Primary Sources

  • 1086, Domesday Book Di, 183a. 2 (1086 – probably built 1067-70. May refer to Old Castleton rather than Clifford Castle) [online copy > http://www.domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SO2445/clifford-castle/]