Details

The motte castle south of Cock Lane is situated on a ridge 1.7km west of the
River Lea and includes a mound 20m in diameter and c.3m high. Surrounding the
mound is a dry ditch 8m wide and c.2.5m deep and, beyond that, a slight bank
1m wide and c.0.3m high. On the eastern side of the ditch is a modern
causeway about 8m wide. The mound was subjected to limited excavation in 1901
by J Evans when a few pieces of pottery and a quern stone were found along
with some charred remains. The hollow in the top of the motte extending down
its southern side shows the extent of the excavation. Local legend believes
that this is the location of the burial of Oddo, the eponym of Hoddesdon.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Motte castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the
Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte,
surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of
examples an embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, the bailey,
adjoined the motte. Motte castles and motte-and-bai1ey castles acted as
garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in
many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal
administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte castles
generally occupied strategic positions dominating their immediate locality
and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early
post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles
and motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from
most regions. Some 100-150 examples do not have baileys and are classified as
motte castles. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest
monuments, they are particularly important for the study of Norman Britain and
the development of the feudal system. Although many were occupied for only a
short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from
the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other
types of castle.

Despite limited excavation, Cock Lane motte is well preserved and will retain
archaeological evidence pertaining to the occupation of the site and
environmental information relating to the economy of its inhabitants and the
landscape in which they lived.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Information from NAR (No. TL 30 NE 3),

Source: Historic England