More information : [SP 80606063). Clifford Hill CASTLE MOUND [LB]. (1)
Clifford Hill castle mound is scheduled.(2) There seems to be an outwork along the river bank (3). (2)(3)
A very large, but quite simple, castle mound with entrance at the SW. An outer bank on the south and accentuation of a natural river terrace to the north have provided additional defences. Published 25" survey and current field document revised. (4)
No change. Survey of 14.2.66 correct but incorrectly transferred to field document, hence published plan (O.S. 25" 1967) has an error. (5)
Motte (SP 80606063) known as Clifford Hill, lies N of the village, on the edge of the R.Nene, on Boulder Clay and Lias Clay at 54 m. above OD. The motte is of exceptional size, standing some 14 m. high above the surrounding land. Though once circular in plan and regular in form, it is now considerably altered and damaged on its S side, where the steep side has been reduced to a series of rounded and ill-defined terraces and mounds, as a result of landslips. The summit of the motte is flat and featureless, but its former circular shape has been changed, following the collapse of the S side. The mound is surrounded by a large ditch up to 5 m. deep, but again on the S side there are indications that this ditch has been recut, following the slipping of the side of the motte above it, which perhaps partly filled it. On the N there is a steep drop, which forms a narrow rampart-like feature, 4 m. high above the R.Nene. On the S is a wide and much spread outer bank which has been interpreted as additional defences. This may have originated as the spoil removed from the blocked S ditch after the landslip, though its present form is the result of subsequent ploughing. A low bank, formed partly by the old river cliff, extends W from the motte ditch and is truncated by the later mill pond. This may be part of a bailey but the evidence is inadequate. Part of the site was dug into in 1900 ' but nothing was found that is worth recording'. The motte, presumably of C11th or C12th date, was clearly built to control a ford across the R.Nene, leading from Little Houghton to Little Billing. However nothing is known of its early history beyond the fact that it bore its present name in the C13th. The name has no significance except as a description of the motte's situation on the cliff near a ford. The lack of any documented history concerning one of the largest mottes in England may be due to its early collapse. It is constructed from Lias Clay which is notoriously unstable when wet and the landslips on its S side, as well as the attempted restoration of the ditch, may have taken place soon after it was built. The present flat summit is apparently due to the construction of a bowling green there in the C17th. Before this the motte was alleged to have been higher. (6)
(SP 80606063). Clifford's Hill. Many fragments of 18th century clay pipe stems picked up. Bridges records how the top of the mound was levelled for a bowling green. (7)
Listed by Cathcart King. (8) |