Monument record ISJ 001 - The Mount, Motte and Bailey Castle, Manor Farm

The Mount, motte and bailey castle.
A conical mound 23 feet high surrounded by a moat, still wet, and a rampart. To the S is a horseshoe shaped bailey with enclosing ditch which has been levelled on the E. Probably the site of a castle (quoting (R1)). A motte and bailey in good condition although the area is densely wooded. Both ditches hold water (J Baird FI 19/3/1968) (S2).
1981: Motte, flat topped, covered in nettles, brambles, trees and low scrub. Moat water filled. A fair quantity of dead wood on the site, both standing and fallen. The moat system appears to be fairly complicated though difficult to unravel due to undergrowth. The (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) have only just moved in. (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) says that they have no plans to clear the undergrowth, but will remove any fallen dead wood both from the moat and the interior (S1). 1986: Flat top of motte clear of trees but covered in previous summer's dead undergrowth. Bailey and sides of motte covered with mainly deciduous trees including once-coppiced hazel, which may be of some age. Both moats wet, although (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) says that they have been dry in summer. Large, irregular hollow at SW angle of bailey, where it breaches the outer edge of the ditch. It is difficult to tell if the hollow, which is slightly deeper than the present bottom of the bailey ditch, is part of the original earthworks or if it is a later pit. A small recent pond (now dry) outside the SE corner of the bailey ditch is linked to it by a shallow trench (also dry)(S1).
January 1999: Scheduled area affirmed (S1).

Features visible on Lidar. See associated files.