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Harbottle Castle is a motte and bailey castle situated in Northumberland, originally founded in the twelfth century as a Norman stronghold controlling the Coquet valley. The site comprises a substantial motte, or earthen mound, surmounted by a stone shell keep, representing a significant phase of medieval fortification development during the period when such structures dominated English frontier defence. The castle was strategically positioned to command the surrounding landscape and served administrative and military functions for its Norman lords. The earthwork remains, including the distinctive motte and the traces of the bailey, survive as substantial archaeological features that illustrate the form and purpose of twelfth-century castellar architecture in northern England.
Motte and bailey castle and shell keep castle at Harbottle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1020386. View the official record →
Harbottle Castle is a motte and bailey castle situated in Northumberland, originally founded in the twelfth century as a Norman stronghold controlling the Coquet valley. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1020386.
Motte and bailey castle and shell keep castle at Harbottle 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 1020386.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Deserted medieval village including bastle at Ironhouse, 750m west of High Shaw (6.5 km), Bastle, 500m west of High Shaw (6.6 km), Bastle at The Raw Farm (6.9 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Motte and bailey castle and shell keep castle at Harbottle