THE HILLS

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DESCRIPTION

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A motte measuring circa 25.0m by 30.0m, with baileys of irregular shape. The surrounding ditches are dry and there appears to be the remains of a contemporary sluice ditch on the North-East side. The motte and bailey are surrounded by the bank and ditch of an outer entrenchment in the form of a rough square enclosing about 30 acres. The whole site is largely devoid of habitation, and this outer enclosure is probably comtemporary with the motte and bailey. This motte may have been one of those besieged by King Stephen in 1138.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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(TL 1325 3585) The Hills (NAT)
Motte & Baileys (NAT) (1)

Motte (30ft in diameter) and double bailey with surrounding ditches (at one time water filled); was probably besieged by Stephen in 1138. (2-3)

A motte and double bailey, in parts overgrown with scrub, locally known as 'The Hills' (4)

The motte measures c25.0m by c 30.0m, and the baileys are of irregular shape. The surrounding ditches are dry and there appears to be the remains of a contemporary sluice ditch on the NE side. Re-surveyed at 1:2500.

The motte and bailey are surrounded by the bank and ditch of an outer entrenchment in the form of a rough square enclosing about 30 acres. The whole site is largely devoid of habitation, and this outer enclosure is probably comtemporary with the motte and bailey. See plan. Scheduled. (5-6)

A rapid examination of air photography (7a) shows the motte and baileys as earthworks. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1960

( 2) Bedfordshire magazine

J F Dyer 8, 1961-3 Page(s)271

( 3) by Derek Renn 1973 Norman castles in Britain

Page(s)242

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JRL 26-OCT-72

( 5) edited by H Arthur Doubleday and William Page 1904 The Victoria History of the county of Bedford, volume one

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)295-6

( 6) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (IAM) List Ancient Monumentss 3 1978 8

( 7) RCHME/EH Aerial Photographers Comment

Andrew Miller/12-JAN-1995/RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project

( 7a) Aerial photograph

NMR, TL 1335/1-7

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