Middleton Mount
In Middleton, near Kings Lynn close to the A47, is this Norman motte and bailey earthwork castle, dating from the late 11th or early 12th centuries.
 The motte, or mound on which the keep once stood, is rather impressive and stands to a height of nearly 20m. The bailey, which contained the castle outbuildings, does not survive above ground, but its outline was identified in excavations carried out in 1987 to determine the extent of the castle before the land surrounding it was developed as a housing estate. We know from these excavations that the bailey covered an area 60 x 40m. In the excavations the surrounding ditch of the bailey was located, as were traces of some timber buildings which once stood within the bailey. Sherds of medieval pottery were found, but none in well stratified contexts to provide any firm dating evidence.
There is now a high hedge roughly following the outer edge of bailey ditch which helps to re-create the original outline of the castle.
From the top of the motte there are fine views over the surrounding countryside which no doubt helps to explain why this castle was placed where is was shortly after the Norman conquest.
The Norfolk Archaeological Trust completed the purchase of the monument on 23rd May 2006 from Norfolk County Council, and the Trust now works closely with Middleton Parish Council to ensure that the site is well managed and open for public access.
To find the castle, drive north off the A47 from Middleton church, turn second left into Arlington Park Road and then left again into Mount Park Close. The gate into the site is at the far end of the close to the right. There is an interpretation panel just inside the gate.
There were at least 18 castles in Norfolk, and a map of the county showing them all can be found in the Historical Atlas of Norfolk, edited by Trevor Ashwin and Alan Davison (2005), under “Castles” by Rob Lidiard, p.70-71.
Further reading
Full information about the results of the excavation can be found in:
Trevor Ashwin, “Middleton Mount excavations in and around the eastern bailey of Middleton Castle by Andrew Rogerson”, Norfolk Archaeology XLIII, p.645-656.
A manuscript copy of a comprehensive report by Alan Davison on the documentary evidence can be seen in the Historic Environment Record at the Archaeology and Environment offices at Gressenhall. However, there are no explicit references to the castle in medieval documents, so when exactly it was built and when it fell into decay we don’t know.
Other castle to visit
Other Norfolk motte and bailey castles open for public access are Denton Castle, owned by the National Trust, and Mileham Castle.
Air photograph of Middleton Mount taken from the south in December 1991, while the new houses surrounding the castle on three sides were still under construction. Photo by Derek Edwards, Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service TF6616/U/LZ6. |
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A similar view taken in July 1992, when the new houses were almost finished . Photo by Derek Edwards, Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service TF6616/AF/FYP10 |
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The modern gate into the castle. The fine hill or motte, on which the timber castle keep once stood is in the background. A kissing gate will soon to be erected to make access easier. |
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The rear view of the castle mound being grazed by some very friendly sheep |
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Around the mound is a well preserved ditch which was probably originally twice its present depth. This made the keep difficult to attack and provided the soil to build the motte. |
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A plan of the castle on the site interpretation panel. The bailey, surrounded by its ditch is shown here to the left of the motte. (North on this plan is at the bottom). |
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Artist’s reconstruction of how the entrance into the castle bailey may have looked in the eleventh century. Visible through the gateway is the motte shown with a timber keep on top. Reconstruction by Sue White. |
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