Details

The monument includes a motte castle situated on a low carboniferous limestone
ridge overlooking the surrounding levels.
The motte, known as Castle Batch, has an artificial mound c.3m high with a
maximum diameter of 42m. There is a hollow area c.1m deep within the top of
the mound and there is a possible entrance situated on the north side of the
monument.
Surrounding the motte is a ditch from which material was quarried during its
construction. This ditch ranges from c.8m to c.10m in width and is c.0.5m deep
despite having been largely infilled over the years.
There is no evidence for a bailey associated with the motte, although the
surrounding area has been landscaped during the recent past, possibly
obscuring further archaeological remains.

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the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other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.

The motte at Castle Batch represents a rare survival in this area and will
contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the monument and
the landscape in which it was constructed.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Suggestion of bailey on AP`s,

Source: Historic England