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Harbottle Castle is a motte and bailey fortification located in Coquetdale in Northumberland, positioned strategically in the Anglo-Scottish border region. The castle was established in the early twelfth century as a Norman stronghold, with the motte crowned by a stone shell keep constructed in the later medieval period. The earthwork defences remain substantial, comprising a prominent mound surrounded by bailey ditches and banks, while the stone keep represents a later phase of development typical of border castles requiring enhanced defensive capabilities. As a Scheduled Monument, Harbottle retains considerable archaeological significance as evidence of medieval military architecture and the strategic importance of fortifications during centuries of cross-border conflict and lordly administration 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 fortification located in Coquetdale in Northumberland, positioned strategically in the Anglo-Scottish border region. 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).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Motte and bailey castle and shell keep castle at Harbottle'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.
Motte and bailey castle and shell keep castle at Harbottle stands on Inverclyde Group, bedrock that formed in the Osagean. The rock here is sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.