Freeborough Hill

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameFreeborough Hill
Alternative NamesFreebrough; Freebro; Freeburg
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityRedcar & Cleveland
1974 AuthorityCleveland
Civil ParishLockwood

Clark, in his list of moated minds or burhs, records 'Freeborough, near Moorshole.– A high artificial mound.'

Freebrough Hill on Moorsholm Moor - rising to 821 feet, it is of entirely natural geological formation, an Oolitic cap left behind whilst glaciers eroded the surrounding softer rocks.

Gatehouse Comments

This remarkable conical hill is natural although anyone having seen it will understand the confusion. Gatehouse suspects it had spiritual significance for pre-Iron Age peoples, as it is surrounded by numerous tumuli. The 'borough' name may reflect the ideas of the local Saxons that such a natural hill may have been an artificial fort of earlier people.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ689126
Latitude54.5044784545898
Longitude-0.936230003833771
Eastings468900
Northings512600
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

Journals

  • Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 215 online copy