Embleton Hall Bank Motte (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Rudd Beck

In the civil parish of Embleton.
In the historic county of Cumberland.
Modern Authority of Cumbria.
1974 county of Cumbria.
Medieval County of Cumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY16202959
Latitude 54.65442° Longitude -3.30038°

Embleton Hall Bank Motte has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

NY 16202959. Tom Rudd Beck, Hall Bank. Enclosing land on two levels, in bend of stream, The upper level may be a slight motte, 40m N-S by 16m., sloping gradually east. On west are two ditches, 2 to 3m., and 1.5m deep respectively, extant for 45m., and possibly quarried-out for further 24m south. Outside this low, 3m broad bank. The lower level to north is bounded on west by pits (filled in ditches?) and bank. 40m long. NY 16232960. The burn has exposed a local stratification deposit, consisting of level slabs, stones and pebbles cemented by black mud and fine gravel, forming a very compact, hard, brittle layer, 30cms thick, at 1.2m depth. Exposed for 9m along west bank, not appearing on east bank, but with free 'slabs' of the material lying in the burn. Occupation layer? (PastScape–ref. 'Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments')

Alleged earthworks. Brennan could only locate faint traces of raised surfaces which according to the owner show clearly in drought conditions. She noticed "curious black stones" by the side of the stream bordering the field which appeared to have been exposed to intense heat. Also traces of iron deposits there. (Lake District HER)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 9385.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 1090.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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