Rowlstone Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameRowlstone Motte
Alternative NamesRowlestone
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishRowlstone

The remains of a moated motte. The motte is 4 metres in height and 36 metres in diameter. The moat, now dry is 6 metres in width and 2 metres in depth on all but the south side where it opens onto low-lying ground, formerly probably marshy. A survey in the 1940s suggested that the site of the bailey was to the east of the castle, and area now covered by farm buildings that have even encroached on part of the moat. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Philiips interprets this a an early watch tower, an outpost to either Ewyas Harold or Llancillo. Interpretations of any small motte as a watch tower have difficulties since generally no attention is given to the actual manning, organisational and funding requirements of watch towers. The bailey site is lost under farm buildings which may suggest an alternative origin as a fortified farmstead with symbolic motte.

- 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 ReferenceSO375271
Latitude51.9396018981934
Longitude-2.91055989265442
Eastings337500
Northings227180
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 252
  • Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p. 110-164
  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) p. 311-2 Download from ADS
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 59
  • Remfry, Paul M., 1998, The Castles of Ewias Lacy, 1048 to 1403 (SCS Publishing: Worcestershire)
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 103 (slight)
  • Stirling-Brown, R., 1989, Herefordshire Castles (privately published) p. 17
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 210
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 49
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. 223 No. 12 online transcription
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 229-30
  • Robinson, C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint)

Journals

  • Halliwell, P. (ed), 1990, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 53 p. 15
  • Thomas. M. and Coplestone-Crow, B., 1982, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 40 p. 6-10
  • 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. 148 online transcription