Sunday, October 24, 2010

Vicarage Drive Motte number 2

Vicarage Drive Motte number 2
Kendal
Cumbria

This low mound of earth lies to the South of Vicarage Drive. It consists of a low mound with trees to the West and South West. It is overlooked by slightly higher ground to the North West, so probably wouldn't be a good candidate for a motte and bailey castle.

Above. Motte number 1 looking West.

From this angle (above) the mound is quite visible against the tree line. There doesn't seem to be any sign of a bailey area, ditches or earthworks...though if there had been any of these features, they would most likely have been destroyed when the school was built.

Above. A view of the mound from the North.

The photo above shows how the mound is overlooked from the West. I don't think this is a very good candidate for a motte and bailey castle, or even any sort of 'pre-conquest administrative centre. Early maps of the area don't show any features in this area, named or otherwise, and local historical documents make no mention of a site at this end of town.

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