Middleton Mount
| Middleton Mount | |
|---|---|
| Norfolk, England | |
|
Middleton Mount | |
  Middleton Mount | |
| Coordinates | grid reference TF660164 |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Norfolk Archaeological Trust |
| Condition | Earthworks only survive |
Middleton Mount, also called Middleton Motte and Middleton Castle, is the remains of a medieval castle situated in the village of Middleton, in Norfolk, England.
Details
Middleton Mount was a motte and bailey castle built during the Norman period.[1] The motte is 49 m in diameter, protected by an 11 m wide ditch.[2] The castle's crescent-shaped bailey and three rectangular enclosures of uncertain medieval date lay alongside the motte.[2] The castle was built by the Normans on a pre-existing Anglo-Saxon estate centre, a common practice after the Norman conquest of England.[3]
The site was excavated in 1987 before the development of much of the surrounding land, including the enclosures, for local housing.[2] The castle was bought by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust in 2006 and is a scheduled monument.[4]
See also
Bibliography
- Creighton, Oliver Hamilton. (2005) Castles and Landscapes: Power, Community and Fortification in Medieval England. London: Equinox. ISBN 978-1-904768-67-8.
Further reading
- Ashwin, T. (2001) "Middleton Mount - Excavations in and around the Eastern Bailey of Middleton Castle," Norfolk Archaeology Vol. 43 (3) pp.645-56.
- Pettifer, Adrian. (2002) English Castles: a Guide by Counties. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-0-85115-782-5.
References
- ↑ Pettifer, p.160.
- 1 2 3 NHER Number: 3394, Norfolk Heritage Explorer, Norfolk County Council, accessed 8 September 2011.
- ↑ Creighton, pp.70-1; NHER Number: 3394, Norfolk Heritage Explorer, Norfolk County Council, accessed 8 September 2011.
- ↑ Middleton Mount, Norfolk Archaeological Trust, accessed 8 September 2011.
Coordinates: 52°43′11″N 0°27′23″E / 52.7198°N 0.4563°E