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Aldford motte and bailey is a Norman castle situated in Cheshire, dating from the late eleventh century. The site comprises a substantial motte crowned by a stone shell keep, a defensive structure typical of the post-Conquest period when Norman lords established their authority across England. The bailey, which would have contained domestic and administrative buildings, adjoins the motte and represents a significant example of early Norman fortification in the region. The shell keep itself demonstrates the evolution of castle design from simple timber palisades to stone-built defences, reflecting the growing permanence and military sophistication of Norman lordship in the Welsh Marches.
Aldford motte and bailey and shell keep castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1007605. View the official record →
Aldford motte and bailey is a Norman castle situated in Cheshire, dating from the late eleventh century. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1007605.
Aldford motte and bailey and shell keep castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1007605.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Holt Roman Settlement (5.2 km), Holt Bridge (5.2 km), Farndon Holt Bridge Also in Clwyd: Wales (5.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Aldford motte and bailey and shell keep castle's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Aldford motte and bailey and shell keep castle stands on Triassic Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Triassic. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.