Willaston Castle Mound

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameWillaston Castle Mound
Alternative NamesWooliston
Historic CountryShropshire
Modern AuthorityShropshire
1974 AuthorityShropshire
Civil ParishIghtfield

Although partially disturbed by later excavation, the motte castle 220m north west of Higher Kempley Farm is a well-preserved example of this class of monument. The mound will retain evidence of its constuction and the buried remains of the structures that once occupied the site. Organic remains preserved within the buried ground surface under the mound and within the surrounding ditch will provide valuable evidence about the local environment and the use of the land before and after the motte castle was constructed. The close proximity of the motte castle to the later moated site suggests these two monuments were related, thus indicating the changing forms of manorial residence.

The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a motte castle occupying a commanding position on high ground in an area of gently undulating land. It lies 130m south west of a medieval moated site, which is the subject of a separate scheduling. The circular flat-topped earthen motte is approximately 25m at its base, 15m across the top and stands to a height of 1.8m. The south eastern quadrant has been cut into by a later pit, now visible as a shallow depression. The motte is surrounded by a broad ditch about 11m wide, which is apparent as a slight earthwork. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Willaston was a member of the Bishop of Chester large Domesday manor of Press and may represent the holding of one of the two sub-tenants named in Domesday Ansketil and Fulcher. It was latter the seat of a family taking their name from the place who were certainly gentry class although not seemingly knights.

- 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 ReferenceSJ597358
Latitude52.9188194274902
Longitude-2.60019993782043
Eastings359740
Northings335880
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Duckers, Peter and Anne, 2006, Castles of Shropshire (Stroud: Tempus) p. 184-5
  • Salter, Mike, 2001 (2edn), The Castles and Moated Mansions of Shropshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 88 (slight)
  • Jackson, M.J.,1988, Castles of Shropshire (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries) p. 66
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 425
  • Wall (after Downham), 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Shropshire Vol. 1 p. 412
  • Eyton, R.W., 1859, Antiquities of Shropshire (London: John Russell Smith) Vol. 9 p. 248-50 (tenurial history) online copy

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

Other

  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 25 online copy (new entry)
  • English Heritage, 2001, Scheduling Papers (Affirmation, 09/03/2001)
  • Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, 1983, Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 13706