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ELY CASTLE

ALTERNATIVE NAME:

CHERRY HILL

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DESCRIPTION

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Ely Castle, or Cherry Hill Castle, a motte and bailey built by William I in 1070 to subdue Ely. Once Ely was quiessent, the motte was abandoned. However it was refortified in 1140 and immediately cptured by King Stephen, and was captured by Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1143. It lies on the south side of the Cathedral Park just inside 'Ely' Porta and close to the old tithe barn of the monastery. The motte is 40ft high with a basal diameter of 250ft and a summit diameter of 50ft. No ditch remains. The bailey consists of a four-sided enclosure on the south east of the motte, 300ft x 250ft. The surrounding bank is slight and there is no trace of an outer ditch. There is a gap in the north side where it should join the motte.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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(TL 541799) Cherry Hill (TI) Motte and Bailey (GT) (1)

A small motte and bailey on the south side of the Cathedral Park just inside 'Ely' Porta and close to the old tithe barn of the monastery. The motte is 40ft high with a basal diameter of 250ft and a summit diameter of 50ft. No ditch remains. The bailey consists of a four-sided enclosure on the south east of the motte, 300ft x 250ft. The surrounding bank is slight and there is no trace of an outer ditch. There is a gap in the north side where it should join the motte.
This was a royal castle built by William I in 1070 after the submission of 'Ely'. Its object was to maintain this submission and as soon as this was secured it appears to have fallen into decay. No attempt was ever made to build any other fortress on the isle. The castle belongs to the same class as the first Cambridge Castle (TL 45 NW5). (2)

Earthwork as described above although the motte is quite large. Some levelling has been carried out on the west side of the
motte, and within the bailey terracing associated with a chool
sports field is evident.
See annotated 25" survey. (3)

Contra authy 2, Cathcart King has evidence that the castle was refortified in 1140 and taken at once, and again by Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1143. (4)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1925-1950

( 2) edited by L F Salzman, M.A., F.S.A. 1948 The Victoria history of the county of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely : volume two

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)29

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 BHS 13-NOV-69

(4) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

Page(s)40

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