Great Driffield Moat Hill

Description

Motte and bailey castle dating to the early medieval period at Moot Hill, with the remains of an earlier moated manor and evidence for a 4th century AD Roman period occupation underlying it. Moot Hill was the site of an important royal manor from the 11th century, originating as part of the royal demesne in 1086, with a complicated history of ownership, passing between the Crown and its gift recipients, through to the 15th century. Buildings relating to this period of occupation are thought to have stood within the earthworks of the castle, whose bailey is referred to in a document of 1208 AD. Excavations at Moot Hill undertaken in 1975 demonstrated that the surviving mound was the motte of a Norman castle lying immediately to the east of the postulated site of the eighth century Northumbrian royal palace, references to which, in connection with Driffield, are found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 705 AD. The Chronicle indicates that King Aldfrith, who ruled Northumbria after the death of his brother, Ecgfrith in 685 AD, possessed a palace at Driffield. The excavations of 1975 also uncovered evidence of a Roman occupation dating to the fourth century AD beneath the motte. The surviving remains are now surrounded on every side by modern buildings, and little of the bailey now survives. The surviving remains include the motte mound which is up to 4.5m in height and 40m in diameter, partly surrounded by the remains of a ditch 15m wide and 1.5m deep. The existence of buried remains of an extensive building was originally discovered during earlier works carried out in the 19th century. These remains included wall fragments and large stone steps. It was recorded in the Driffield Observer for June, 1893 that 'an elongated rectangle for the castle' was found and that hand-made files and a chalk wall foundation surrounded by a moat up to 3m deep at its west side were revealed by the excavation of a drain. J R Mortimer, the 19th century antiquarian mistakenly identified the mound as a Bronze Age round barrow. The mound had been originally much larger, both in diameter and height, before part of it was removed during gravel quarrying operations in 1856-8. During these operations, Mortimer noted fragments of medieval swords, including what is described as an Anglo-Saxon sword, and spears, a bronze celt and English silver coins. It was also believed by Mortimer to have been at one time an Anglo-Saxon Moot Mound, although there is no direct evidence for this other than its name. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Norman Motte on the site with evidence of C4 occupation might, therefore, have utilised an already existing mound and enlarged it. Excavations carried out in 1975 revealed a Norman castle with several phases of bridge building across the motte ditch. There might be evidence for a building date of the castle of 1071, about the time of Mortcar's rebellion. The castle was then abandoned for some time then re-fortified in C13. Earlier excavations have revealed Saxon relics also indicating that the site was of some importance for many centuries. The mound had been originally much larger, both in diameter and height, before part of it was removed during gravel quarrying operations in 1856-8. Site of a royal residence of some importance in early C13; nearly £600 spent on works here 1210-12.