Watch Hill Castle (also known as Yarwood Castle, Castle Hill, and Bowdon Watch) is an early medieval motte-and-bailey near Bowdon, England. It is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The castle is located north of the River Bollin and south of a deep ravine (grid reference SJ74798598). What remains of the motte is conical, measuring 40m wide at the base and 17m at the top, 6m above the base. The motte is surrounded by a 5m wide ditch. The bailey covered an area approximately 2,400m2 and lies to the east of the motte.[1]
Substantial dating evidence has not been recovered from the site, but the form of the castle as a timber motte-and-bailey would date it to between the Norman Conquest and the 13th century. The lack of documentary evidence relating to the castle may be attributed to the short term nature of the timber construction; motte-and-baileys were quick to establish and would not necessarily have been used for long periods. A coin found on the site dating to the reign of Henry II, 1154 to 1189, may indicate that the castle was built during this period. The castle most likely belonged to Hamo de Mascy who was involved with the barons’rebellion against Henry II in 1173. the castle had fallen out of use by the 13th century.[1]
References
- ^ a b 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.
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