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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Roft Motte

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
The Rofft; Rofft Mount; The Rofts; Marford; Hoseley; Hodesley; Bromfield; castellum de Bromfeld

In the community of Gresford.
In the historic county of Flintshire.
Modern authority of Wrexham.
Preserved county of Clwyd.

OS Map Grid Reference: SJ35725623
Latitude 53.10004° Longitude -2.96133°

Roft Motte has been described as a certain Timber Castle, and also as a probable Palace.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

Description

RCAHM described the motte as 3.8m high with a summit 20m in diameter. Possibly the castrum de Glynn of the 1391 survey of Bromfield. Possibly destroyed during rebellion of Madog ap Llewleyn 1294-5. Possibly mentioned in Domesday book and Pipe Rolls of 1160-61 (Pratt, 1984 p. 4) Roft Mount, rose 18ft above the surrounding ground level with a dry moat. Iron Age promontory fort used as outer bailey. Possibly site of the court of Osbern Fitztesso (1086). Site badly damaged March 1140. Rebuilt to become llys of Madog ap Maredudd (d. 1160). Fell into disrepair in C13. Manor house constructed in bailey by 1315 (Pratt, 1992, p. 33-5). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)
Comments

Site damaged by railway and quarrying (King writes destroyed in 1952). Mentioned in 1161-62 and, if correctly identified as Bromfield, as burnt in 1140. Was motte and bailey on promontory site.
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This record last updated 05/07/2016 08:46:52


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