Motte and Bailey

In the 13th century King Edward I granted a charter to Roger Mortimer of Wigmore Castle to establish a new town in the Manor of Cedewain, Newtown, as it quickly became known. This mound or “motte” was built to provide the usual fortified protection of a mediaeval town. A timber keep was probably built on it. The town was built in a bend in the river. Two defensive banks were built, one to meet the river to the north and the other to the east, meeting the river further downstream, thus providing a near rectangular site for the town. There is no evidence that the moat was ever deliberately filled with water, although in wet weather water does accumulate in it. In the event there was little need for defences and the fortifications fell into disuse.