List of castles in Greater Manchester

There are nine castles in Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. They comprise four motte-and-bailey castles, three fortified manor houses, an enclosure castle, and a possible shell keep. A motte-and-bailey castle is characterised by two elements: the motte is an artificial mound with a wooden stockade and stronghold on top, usually a stone keep or tower,[1] while the bailey is a defended enclosure adjacent to the motte, typically enclosed by a ditch and a bank topped by a timber palisade or stone wall.[2] Motte-and-bailey castles were the most common type of castle in England following the Norman Conquest.[3] A shell keep was a motte with a stone wall rather than a wooden stockade on top, and would not have contained a tower within the walls.[4] Four of Greater Manchester's castles are scheduled monuments: Buckton, Bury, Radcliffe Tower, and Watch Hill. A scheduled monument is a "nationally important" archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.[5]

The purpose of a castle was not solely militaristic; it was also a stamp of authority over the local population and a symbol of status. Some castles would have served as centres of trade and administration for a manor.[6] The earliest castles in Greater Manchester are Dunham and Watch Hill in Trafford, Ullerwood in Manchester, and Stockport Castle in Stockport. Dunham, Ullerwood, and Stockport castles were first recorded in 1173 as belonging to barons who had rebelled against Henry II,[7] and Watch Hill likely dates from the same period. At least three of these sites were motte-and-bailey castles, probably because of the speed and ease with which they could be erected.[8] Hamon de Massey, who owned the Trafford castles and Ullerwood, and Geoffrey de Constentyn, who owned Stockport Castle, were two of the three rebels from Cheshire; the third was the Earl of Chester, the owner of Chester Castle.[7]

Castles continued to be built in the area, although the last to be constructed in Greater Manchester were two fortified manor houses near Bury, built more for comfort than as utilitarian military structures. Bury Castle and Radcliffe Tower followed the national trend in the 13th century and would most likely have acted as the centres of the manors they served.[9]

List of castles

Castle Location Type Constructed Scheduled Notes
Buckton Castle Buckton Hill, Carrbrook
SD98920162[10] 		Enclosure castle[10] 061180s[10] Yes[10] The castle overlooks the Tame Valley,[10] a position that may have allowed it to control movement through the valley.[11] It was probably built by the earls of Chester in the 12th century[12] and was first recorded in 1360, by which time it was already ruinous.[13] The structure consisted of a stone curtain wall and is surrounded by a ditch 10 metres (33 ft) wide and 6 metres (20 ft) deep; the enclosed area covers about 730 square metres (0.18 acres).[14] The remains have been disturbed by 18th-century treasure hunters, and the site is close to Buckton Vale Quarry.[10][15][16]
Bury Castle Bury
SD803108[17] 		Fortified manor house[17] 091469[18] Yes[17] The castle is on a slope overlooking the River Irwell in the centre of modern Bury. It is a fortified stone manor house built for Sir Thomas Pilkington.[18] The castle may have replaced an earlier moated house on the site.[17] Excavations have revealed foundation walls measuring 180 metres (590 ft) by 82 metres (269 ft), and a keep or tower 25 metres (82 ft) by 19 metres (62 ft).[19] Bury Castle was razed after the Wars of the Roses, when Thomas Pilkington's lands were confiscated.[19] The remains, once buried, have been excavated for public display and now form the centrepiece of Castle Square in the town centre.[17][20]
Dunham Castle Dunham Massey
SJ73428742 		Motte[21] 02Pre-1173[21] No The castle was first recorded in 1173 and belonged to Hamon de Massey. It was still standing in 1323 and fell into disuse sometime between then and 1362.[21] The castle is 24 metres (79 ft) in diameter and survives to a height of 2 metres (6.6 ft).[22] The site is surrounded by a moat that has been turned into an ornamental lake.[22] It was formerly protected as a scheduled monument, but was delisted as it may be a "natural hummock of glacial sand".[23]
Manchester Castle Manchester
SJ839989[24] 		Fortified manor house 05Pre-1184[25] No The castle is thought to have stood on a bluff at the confluence of the rivers Irk and Irwell, near Manchester Cathedral and beneath the present-day Chetham's School of Music, placing it on the edge of medieval Manchester.[24][26] It may originally have been a ringwork castle before later becoming a manor house.[26] First recorded in 1184, it was held in 1215 by Gresle,[25] the baron of Manchester, and in 1243 by Robert de Furch.[27] Three concentric rings of ditches have been identified around the likely site of the castle.[24]
Radcliffe Tower Radcliffe
SD79580751[28] 		Fortified manor house[28] 091403[28] Yes[28] The tower is located on Church Street East and is all that remains of a medieval fortified manor house, built in 1403 and constructed from stone with two towers and a moat.[28] The house was demolished in the 19th century, leaving only this tower, now a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.[28][29] It measures 9.6 metres (31 ft) by 17 metres (56 ft) and survives to a height of 6.1 metres (20 ft).[29] The structure was used as a pigsty before being restored.[28][30]
Rochdale Castle Rochdale
SD89121286[31] 		Motte-and-bailey[31] 01Early post Norman Conquest[31] No The castle is defended by a ditch and an earth rampart; the motte measures 30 metres (100 ft) at the base, and the bailey is 37 metres (121 ft) by 30 metres (100 ft).[31] It lay derelict by the early 13th century.[31] Both the motte and bailey are now obscured by housing developments.[32]
Stockport Castle Stockport
SJ897905[33] 		Motte-and-bailey[33] 03Pre-1173[33] No The castle stood on the south side of a valley overlooking a ford across the River Mersey.[34] It was first recorded in 1173 when Geoffrey de Constentyn held it against Henry II during the barons' rebellion.[33] Originally constructed with timber and earthwork defences, it was rebuilt in stone at the start of the 13th century.[33] The castle lay in ruins by 1535 and was demolished in 1775 to make way for a cotton mill.[33][35] Although no trace of the keep on the motte survives, it was described in 1775 as irregular in shape and measuring 31 by 60 metres (102 by 197 ft). The bailey lies to the south-east of the motte.[36]
Ullerwood Castle Ringway
SJ8083[37] 		Shell keep[37] 04Pre-1173[8] No The castle has been confused with Watch Hill Castle in nearby Bowdon; both probably belonged to Hamon de Massey.[8] It was first recorded in 1173 as one of the castles de Massey held against Henry II.[8] The site is now topped by a modern house.[32]
Watch Hill Castle Bowdon
SJ74788599[38] 		Motte-and-bailey[38] 0712th century (probable)[8] Yes[38] The castle is located on the boundary of Bowdon and Dunham Massey. It was constructed from timber, with a motte 6 metres (20 ft) high, 40 metres (130 ft) wide at the base, and 17 metres (56 ft) across at the top; the bailey covers approximately 2,400 square metres (0.59 acres).[8] A coin from the reign of Henry II was discovered at the site, and the castle may have been built during this period. It most likely belonged to Hamon de Massey.[8] If it was built in Henry II's reign, it may have been used in the barons' rebellion against him.[8] The castle had fallen out of use by the 13th century.[8]


See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Friar (2003), p. 54, 214.
  2. ^ Friar (2003), p. 22.
  3. ^ Rowley (1997), p. 71.
  4. ^ Friar (2003), p. 259.
  5. ^ "Scheduled Monuments". PastScape. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  6. ^ Friar (2003), p. 186, 193.
  7. ^ a b Arrowsmith (1997), p. 31.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Redhead (1997), pp. 34–35
  9. ^ Friar (2003), p. 186–7.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Nevell (1998), pp. 60–61, 63.
  11. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 7.
  12. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell & Nevell (2012), pp.  82–85.
  13. ^ P. Booth, M. Harrop & S. Harrop (1976–1978). The Extent of Longdendale, 1360. Cheshire Sheaf, 5th series, #83.
  14. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 16.
  15. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 5.
  16. ^ Historic England, "Buckton Castle: a ringwork and site of 17th century beacon 350m north east of Castle Farm (1015131)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 8 January 2026
  17. ^ a b c d e Historic England. "Bury Castle (45189)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  18. ^ a b "Bury Castle". Eduweb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  19. ^ a b Ashworth (1999)
  20. ^ Historic England. "Medieval moated site and later fortified manor house known as Bury Castle 100m west of the parish church (1015128)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  21. ^ a b c Nevell (1997), p. 33.
  22. ^ a b "Dunham Massey". The Gatehouse – the comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of England and Wales. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  23. ^ Historic England. "Dunham Castle (74865)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  24. ^ a b c Historic England. "Manchester Castle (1386094)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  25. ^ a b "Manchester Castle". The Gatehouse – the comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of England and Wales. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  26. ^ a b Newman (2006), p. 141.
  27. ^ Kidd (1996), p. 13.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g Historic England. "Radcliffe Tower (44210)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  29. ^ a b Historic England. "Radcliffe Tower (Grade I) (1309271)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  30. ^ Historic England. "Radcliffe Tower and site of hall 100m south west of the parish church in Radcliffe (1014721)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  31. ^ a b c d e Historic England. "Rochdale Castle (45159)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  32. ^ a b Newman (2006), p. 140.
  33. ^ a b c d e f Historic England. "Stockport Castle (1085399)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  34. ^ Dent (1977), p. 1.
  35. ^ Arrowsmith (1997), p. 32.
  36. ^ Dent (1977), p. 4.
  37. ^ a b Historic England. "Ullersford Castle (76615)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  38. ^ a b c Historic England, "Watch Hill motte and bailey castle, 450m south of Streethead Farm (1014377)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 26 August 2022

Bibliography

  • Arrowsmith, Peter (1997). Stockport: A History. Stockport: Stockport MBC Community Services Division, and Stockport Libraries, in association with the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. ISBN 0-905164-99-7.
  • Ashworth, Terry (Summer 1999). "The Rediscovery of Bury Castle". Bury Local History Society Journal.
  • Dent, J.S. (1977). "Recent Excavations on the site of Stockport Castle". Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society. 79: 1–13.
  • Friar, Stephen (2003). The Sutton Companion to Castles. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7509-3994-2.
  • Brian Grimsditch; Mike Nevell & Norman Redhead (September 2007). Buckton Castle: An Archaeological Evaluation of a Medieval Ringwork – an Interim Report. University of Manchester Archaeological Unit.
  • Grimsditch, Brian; Nevell, Michael; Nevell, Richard (2012), Buckton Castle and the Castles of North West England, University of Salford Archaeological Monographs volume 2 and the Archaeology of Tameside volume 9, Centre for Applied Archaeology, School of the Built Environment, University of Salford, ISBN 978-0-9565947-2-3
  • Kidd, Alan (1996). Manchester. Keele: Keele University Press. ISBN 1-85331-028-X.
  • Nevell, Mike (1998). Lands and Lordships in Tameside. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council with the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. ISBN 1-871324-18-1.
  • Nevell, Mike (1997). The Archaeology of Trafford. Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council with the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. ISBN 1-870695-25-9.
  • Newman, Caron (2006). "Medieval Period Resource Assessment". Archaeology North West. 8: 115–144. ISSN 0962-4201.
  • Redhead, Norman (1997). "Watch Hill Castle". The Archaeology of Trafford. Trafford Metropolitan Borough with University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. pp. 34–35. ISBN 1-870695-25-9.
  • Rowley, Trevor (1997). Norman England. Batsford and English Heritage. ISBN 0-7134-8060-2.

Further reading

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