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Pulford motte and bailey castle is a Norman earthwork fortification located in Cheshire, England, situated near the Welsh border in a strategically significant region. The monument consists of a substantial motte, or artificial mound, accompanied by an associated bailey, typical of military architecture from the late eleventh and twelfth centuries following the Norman Conquest. The site demonstrates the characteristic form of early Norman castle construction, which relied upon earthwork defences rather than stone masonry, reflecting the rapid establishment of Norman military control across the borderlands. Though its precise founding date remains uncertain, such motte and bailey castles were generally constructed during the period of Norman expansion into Wales and the Welsh Marches, making Pulford an important example of this defensive strategy.
Pulford motte and bailey castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1012078. View the official record →
Pulford motte and bailey castle is a Norman earthwork fortification located in Cheshire, England, situated near the Welsh border in a strategically significant region. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1012078.
Pulford motte and bailey 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 1012078.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bryn Alyn Camp (6.6 km), Wat's Dyke: Section W of Ty-Gwyn (7.4 km), Wat's Dyke: Garden Village Section (7.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Pulford motte and bailey 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.
Pulford motte and bailey castle stands on Permian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Permian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.