More information : (TQ 44251800) A tongue of land at Isford is utilised as a motte and bailey castle, the motte, c 8ft high, being placed close to the river. (1)
The inner bailey is protected by the motte and by a short cross ditch. The outer bailey has its own ditch on the N and a higher outer bank for two-thirds of the way stretching across the alluvium. The whole area comprises some 4 acres.
It would appear that at some later date the motte-ditch was extended into the outer bailey in the curious manner shown (see plan) forming, probably, a fish pond rather than serving any military purpose.
A motte with a bailey. The inner bailey contains a depression which may represent the site of a pond, and the outer bailey a 'meandering ditch'. The motte has a small rampart bank on its S and SE sides.
There is no evidence of masonry or of foundations of buildings on the site, which is grass-covered. (See plan and cross sections).
(2)
(TQ 44251800) Motte and bailey (LB) (3)
As described by F1. Surveyed at 1:2500 (4) |