Monument record MDO1101 - Motte and bailey, East Chelborough

Earthwork remains of a Motte and Bailey. Field investigation in 1971 stated that the site was in very poor condition. The motte was fairly flat up to 1.5 metres high on the north side and up to 4 metres high on the south side. The scarp which presumably represents the bailey averages 6 metres wide and is between 1 and 2 metres high.

This site appears to be the remains of a motte and bailey castle. The motte, at the W end, is about 6 feet high on the north and more on the south side. It is irregular in shape and measures 30 yards by 50 yards. There are no traces of a ditch but to the east are the scarps of an irregularly shaped bailey enclosing about 2 acres. Dampness at this site may have caused the removal to the ridge top site. <1-2>

This site is in very poor condition, the motte fairly flat 1.5m high on the north side and up to 4.0m high on the south side. The scarp which presumably represents the bailey averages 6.0m wide and is from 1.0m to 2.0m high. The break in the scarp at the north end is probably modern. 1:2500 survey revised. <4>

Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 4376 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21158.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West) (Monograph). SDO97.

<2> St Joseph, J K, J K St Joseph AR 81-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18797.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 55350549) Earthworks (NR)

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 23-NOV-71 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Lewis, C R, Field investigators comments CRL, 1987 (Unpublished document). SDO17943.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195689 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> Corney, M, 1987, Ordnance Survey Map Revision, West Dorset (Article in serial). SDO14053.

‘RCHME is responsible for supplying the Ordnance Survey with up to date surveys of antiquities for depiction on larger scale OS plans. The Melbury area of West Dorset is currently under revision at 1:2500 scale, and the following sites were recorded at a basic scale of 1:1000 with reductions of 1:2500 being supplied to the OS at Southampton. A selection of those sites recorded is noted below. … East Chelborough, 2 motte and bailey castles and settlement remains, ST 553054: The motte and bailey castles, located within 150 metres of each other were recorded in detail. Both bore traces of masonry structures on the mottes. Below (west of) the westernmost castle previously unrecorded remains of a small medieval settlement were noted, as was a post-medieval house site with associated garden earthworks.‘

<7> Council for British Archaeology, 1987, Council for British Archaeology Group 12: Newsletter, October 1987, 9-10 (Serial). SDO15257.

<8> Lewis, C, 1989, Paired Mottes in East Chelborough, Dorset (Article in monograph). SDO16392.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF0888771 RCHME: East Chelborough, Dorset (Index). SDO14738.

The remains of 2 motte and bailey castles and nearby medieval and post-medieval settlement were surveyed in 1987 by RCHME Salisbury as part of an Ordnance Survey revision.Contents : 3 plans, report, publications proofsCondition : INTACTBibliographic Reference: 1) Volume 209

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 888773 East Chelborough mottes and baileys/ink survey (Index). SDO14738.

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 888870 East Chelborough mottes and baileys/pencil survey (Index). SDO14738.

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 932919 East Chelborough - a paired motte site in Dorset (Index). SDO14738.

<13> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195689 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 27 2024 3:53PM