Marchamley Moat Bank (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Marchemelegh'

In the civil parish of Hodnet.
In the historic county of Shropshire.
Modern Authority of Shropshire.
1974 county of Shropshire.
Medieval County of Shropshire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SJ594294
Latitude 52.86057° Longitude -2.60445°

Marchamley Moat Bank has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such, and also as a probable Fortified Manor House, and also as a Siege Work although is doubtful that it was such.

There are earthwork remains.

Description

A possible motte... apparently thrown up, or adapted, in 1223 when it was referred to as a 'fortalice'. It contains the remains of an C18 brick-built potato house, and a large pit. (Jackson)

A flat topped mound, situated at Hawkstone Farm, Marchamley; probably a medieval motte attested by documentary evidence of 1223. The document calls it a "fortalice". It is not yet clear if the earthwork was purpose built as a siegework in 1223 or was an existing marcher motte adapted to this purpose in that time of renewed warfare between the Welsh, Marcher Lords and the English crown. The motte mound was adapted in C18 with the insertion of a brick built potato storehouse and pit. (PastScape)

Rex Vic' Salop salutem. Precipimus tibi quod facias heredes Henr' de Aldithel' auxilium de hominibus Comes tui ad firmand quandam fortesleciam suam apud Marchemelegh' par viii dies T. ut supra (T.H. etc. apud Westm' xxvi die Jan. 1223) {Greeting from the King to the Sheriff of Shropshire. We command you to cause the heirs of Henry de Audley, with the help of the Count's men for 8 days, to strengthen a certain fortalice of Marchamley} (Rot. litt. claus. transcription/translation by Philip Charles Davis - please help improve these)

Comments

The tenurial history is certainly consistent with an early castle here. 8 days of help from the Counts men does not suggest an intent to build a major fortification. Does this actually suggest some help in refurbishing an existing site, specifically intended as a residence for Henry's wife and children (Henry, died in 1246, his children were apparently children under 5 in 1223 - regardless what is the reason for mentioning the heirs of Henry in this mandate?), possibly at a time when Henry was busy with his numerous royal duties? A fortalice here being a site with the domestic security a high status women would require.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 70626.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 01649.

Books
- Jackson, M.J.,1988, Castles of Shropshire (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries) p. 36
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 425 (Hodnet No. 2)
  Wall (after Downham), 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Shropshire Vol. 1 p. 403
  Eyton, R.W., 1859, Antiquities of Shropshire (London: John Russell Smith) Vol. 9 p. 272- (tenurial history) online copy
Periodical Articles
- King, D.J.Cathcart, 1972, 'The Field Archaeology of mottes; Eine kurze übersicht' Château Gaillard Vol. 5 p. 101-112
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132 (survived into C13 without being rebuilt in stone)
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1833, Rotuli litterarum clausarum in turri Londinensi asservati (Record Commission) Vol. 1 p. 530b (built 1233) online copy

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.
It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from ANY site without proper recording and reporting.
Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of Historic England, County Historic Environment Records and other individuals and organisations. It may also contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
The author and compiler of Gatehouse does not receive any income from the site and funds it himself. The information within this site is provided freely for educational purposes only.

The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

Please help to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting Gatehouse if you see errors, can add information or have suggestions for improvements in functality and design.
Help is acknowledged.

Data >	PastScape	County HER
Maps >	Streetmap	NLS maps	Where's the path	Old-Maps
Data/Maps >	Magic	V. O. B.	Geology	LiDAR	Open Domesday
Air Photos >	Bing Maps	Google Maps	Getmapping	ZoomEarth
Photos >	CastleFacts	Geograph	Flickr	Panoramio