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==Buckton Castle==
==Buckton Castle==
[[Image:Excavations on Buckton Castle July 2007.JPG|thumb|Excavation of [[Buckton Castle]]'s stone curtain wall.]]
[[Image:Excavations on Buckton Castle July 2007.JPG|thumb|Excavation of [[Buckton Castle]]'s stone curtain wall.]]
[[Buckton Castle]] is located on Buckton Hill near [[Carrbrook]], overlooking the Tame Valley ({{gbmapping|SD98920162}}), possibly allowing the castle to guard the valley.<ref name="Lands & Lordships">Nevell (1998), p.&nbsp;60-61,&nbsp;63.</ref><ref>Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p.&nbsp;7.</ref> It is a [[ringwork]] castle built in the late 12th century for William de Neville.<ref name="Lands & Lordships"/> Ringworks are an uncommon form of fortification &ndash; though contemporary with mott-eand-baileys &ndash; a ringwork may have been built rather than a motte and bailey because the soil was too thin to provide a proper motte.<ref>Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p.&nbsp;10.</ref> It was constructed with a stone wall, surrounded by a ditch {{convert|10|m|ft}} wide and {{convert|6|m|ft}} deep and covers an area of {{convert|1250|sqm|acre}}. The castle is first referred to in 1360, by which time it was ruinous.<ref>{{cite book |author=P. Booth, M. Harrop & S. Harrop |date=1976-8 |title=The Extent of Longdendale, 1360 |publisher=Cheshire Sheaf, 5th series, #83 |isbn=}}</ref> It is a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]].<ref name="Lands & Lordships"/> The site has been damaged by 18th century treasure hunters.<ref>Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p.&nbsp;5.</ref>
[[Buckton Castle]] is located on Buckton Hill near [[Carrbrook]], overlooking the Tame Valley ({{gbmapping|SD98920162}}), possibly allowing the castle to guard the valley.<ref name="Lands & Lordships">Nevell (1998), p.&nbsp;60-61,&nbsp;63.</ref><ref>Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p.&nbsp;7.</ref> It is a [[ringwork]] castle built in the late 12th century for William de Neville.<ref name="Lands & Lordships"/> Ringworks are an uncommon form of fortification &ndash; though contemporary with mott-and-baileys &ndash; a ringwork may have been built rather than a motte-and-bailey because the soil was too thin to provide a proper motte.<ref>Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p.&nbsp;10.</ref> It was constructed with a stone wall, surrounded by a ditch {{convert|10|m|ft}} wide and {{convert|6|m|ft}} deep and covers an area of {{convert|1250|sqm|acre}}. The castle is first referred to in 1360, by which time it was ruinous.<ref>{{cite book |author=P. Booth, M. Harrop & S. Harrop |date=1976-8 |title=The Extent of Longdendale, 1360 |publisher=Cheshire Sheaf, 5th series, #83 |isbn=}}</ref> It is a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]].<ref name="Lands & Lordships"/> The site has been damaged by 18th century treasure hunters.<ref>Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p.&nbsp;5.</ref>


==Bury Castle==
==Bury Castle==

Revision as of 21:53, 12 March 2008

There are nine castles in Greater Manchester, England. Of the various types of castle, those represented in Greater Manchester are motte-and-bailey, the most common type of castle in England after the Norman Conquest,[1] a ringwork, essentially just a motte,[2] and two fortified manor houses. Five of Greater Manchester's castles are Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Buckton, Bury, Radcliffe Tower, Stockport, and Watch Hill.

The earliest castles in Greater Manchester are Dunham, Ullerwood and Watch Hill in Trafford and Stockport Castle in Stockport. They were all first referred to in 1173 relating to the baron's rebellion against Henry II; they were recorded on a list of rebels and the castles they owned.[3] These castles were all motte-and-bailey castles probably because of the speed and ease with which they could be erected.[4] Hamon de Massey, who owned the Trafford castles, and Geoffrey de Constentyn, who owned Stockport Castle, were two of the three rebels from Cheshire; the other was the Earl of Chester who owned Chester Castle.[5] Castles continued to be built in the area – notably the unusual ringwork of Buckton Castle – although the last castles to be built in Greater Manchester were fortified manor house, built more for comfort than as utilitarian military structure. Bury Castle and Radcliffe Tower followed the national trend in the 13th century; They would most likely have acted as the centre of the manor they were part of.[6]

Buckton Castle

Excavation of Buckton Castle's stone curtain wall.

Buckton Castle is located on Buckton Hill near Carrbrook, overlooking the Tame Valley (grid reference SD98920162), possibly allowing the castle to guard the valley.[7][8] It is a ringwork castle built in the late 12th century for William de Neville.[7] Ringworks are an uncommon form of fortification – though contemporary with mott-and-baileys – a ringwork may have been built rather than a motte-and-bailey because the soil was too thin to provide a proper motte.[9] It was constructed with a stone wall, surrounded by a ditch 10 metres (33 ft) wide and 6 metres (20 ft) deep and covers an area of 1,250 square metres (0.31 acres). The castle is first referred to in 1360, by which time it was ruinous.[10] It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[7] The site has been damaged by 18th century treasure hunters.[11]

Bury Castle

Bury Castle is located on a slope overlooking the River Irwell in the centre of modern Bury (grid reference SD803108). It is a fortified manor house constructed from stone and was built for Sir Thomas Pilkington in 1469.[12] The castle may have replaced an earlier house on the site, surrounded by a moat.[13] Bury Castle was razed to the ground after the Wars of the Roses. Known remains have revealed foundation walls 180 metres (590 ft) by 82 metres (269 ft) and a tower or keep 25 metres (82 ft) by 19 metres (62 ft).[14] The castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is open to the public.[13]

Dunham Castle

Dunham Castle is located in Dunham Massey. The castle was probably a motte and may not have had a bailey. It was first referred to in 1173 and belonged to Hamon de Massey. It fell into disuse in the mid 14th century.[15]

Manchester Castle

Manchester Castle is probably located on a bluff where the rivers Irk and Irwell meet, near to Manchester Cathedral, putting it near the edge of the medieval town of Manchester. (grid reference 839989). Manchester Castle was first referred to in 1184. Three rings of ditches have been discovered surrounding the likely site of the castle.[16]

Radcliffe Tower

The standing remains of Radcliffe Tower.

Radcliffe Tower is located on Church Street East in Bury (grid reference SD79580751).[17][18] The tower is all that remains of a medieval fortified manor house. The house was built in 1403 and constructed from stone with two towers and a moat.[18] The house was demolished in the 19th century, the only remaining tower is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[17][18] The tower measures 9.6 metres (31 ft) by 17 metres (56 ft) and survives to 6.1 metres (20 ft) in height.[17]

Rochdale Castle

Rochdale Castle is located in Rochdale (grid reference SD89121286).[19] It is a motte-and-bailey defended by a ditch and an earth rampart; the motte measures 91 metres (299 ft) at the base and the bailey is 110 metres (360 ft) by 91 metres (299 ft).[19] The castle was derelict by the early 13th century.[19]

Stockport Castle

Stockport Castle is located in Stockport (grid reference SJ897905), and first referred to in 1173 when Geoffrey de Constentyn held it against Henry II during the barons' rebellion.[20] It is a motte-and-bailey castle, originally constructed with timber and earthwork defences, though these were later replaced with stone walls at the start of the 13th century.[20] The castle lay in ruins by 1535 and was demolished in 1775. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[20]

Ullerwood Castle

Ullerwood Castle is a medieval castle in Hale, belonging to Hamon de Massey, first referred to in 1173.[21]

Watch Hill Castle

Watch Hill Castle is located on the border of Bowdon and Dunham Massey (grid reference SJ74798598).[4] It is a motte-and-bailey castle constructed from timber, with the conical motte measuring 40 metres (130 ft) in diameter at the base and 17 metres (56 ft) at the top; the bailey covers approximately 2,400 square metres (0.59 acres).[4] It’s unclear when the castle was built, but it was most likely constructed during the late 12th century and belonged to Hamon de Massey.[4] A suggested late 12th century date for the construction of the castle would mean it was probably constructed to aid in the baron's rebellion against Henry II.[4] The castle had fallen out of use by the 13th century and is Scheduled Ancient Monument.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rowley (1997), p. 71.
  2. ^ Friar (2003), p. 246.
  3. ^ Arrowsmith (1997), p. 31.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Watch Hill Castle by Norman Redhead in Mike Nevell (1997). The Archaeology of Trafford. Trafford Metropolitan Borough with University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. pp. 34–35. ISBN 1-870695-25-9.
  5. ^ Arrowsmith (1997), p. 31.
  6. ^ Friar (2003), p. 186-7.
  7. ^ a b c Nevell (1998), p. 60-61, 63.
  8. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 7.
  9. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 10.
  10. ^ P. Booth, M. Harrop & S. Harrop (1976-8). The Extent of Longdendale, 1360. Cheshire Sheaf, 5th series, #83. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 5.
  12. ^ "Bury Castle". Eduweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  13. ^ a b "Bury Castle". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  14. ^ Ashworth, Terry (Summer 1999). "The Rediscovery of Bury Castle". Bury Local History Society Journal. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  15. ^ Nevell (1997), p. 33.
  16. ^ "Manchester Castle". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  17. ^ a b c "Radcliffe Tower". Images of England. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  18. ^ a b c "Radcliffe Tower". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  19. ^ a b c "Rochdale Castle". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  20. ^ a b c "Stockport Castle". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  21. ^ Nevell (1997), p. 33, 35.

Bibliography

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