List of castles in Cheshire - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

There are 20 castle

Castle

A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...

s in the county

Counties of England

Counties of England are areas used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. For administrative purposes, England outside Greater London and the Isles of Scilly is divided into 83 counties. The counties may consist of a single district or be divided into several...

of Cheshire

Cheshire

Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...

in North West England

North West England

North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...

. Cheshire is one of the historic counties of England

Historic counties of England

The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...

and its historic boundaries are different from the modern county lines. Some castles that were formerly in Cheshire are now in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...

. In addition, Warrington Castle is historically a part of Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

but is within the current boundaries of Cheshire. Before the Norman conquest of England

Norman conquest of England

The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...

began in 1066, defensive sites in England were communal, such as Anglo-Saxon

Anglo-Saxon

Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...

burh

Burh

A Burh is an Old English name for a fortified town or other defended site, sometimes centred upon a hill fort though always intended as a place of permanent settlement, its origin was in military defence; "it represented only a stage, though a vitally important one, in the evolution of the...

s built as a defence against the Danes. Castles were popularised in England by the Normans

Normans

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...

– although a few sites in the south-east pre-dating the Norman conquest – and were owned by the feudal lords. The primary purpose of a castle was military: to be used as a base of operations and to control the surrounding areas. A castle was considered to be a stamp of authority over the population of an area, and a status symbol. Some would have acted as centres of trade and administration for a manor

Manorialism

Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...

.

Castles can take several forms. The most common is the motte-and-bailey

Motte-and-bailey

A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...

which consists of a motte (a mound) – surmounted by a keep

Keep

A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...

or tower – connected to a bailey, an outer enclosure where the barracks and workshops were located. Other types of castle in Cheshire are ringwork

Ringwork

A ringwork is a form of fortified defensive structure, usually circular or oval in shape. Ringworks are essentially motte-and-bailey castles minus the motte...

s and fortified manor houses. Ringworks are similar to motte-and-bailey castles but lack the motte; although contemporary with motte-and-baileys, they are an uncommon form of fortification. A ringwork may have been built rather than a motte-and-bailey because the soil was too thin to provide a proper motte or simply because of the preference of the builder. A fortified manor house was the administrative centre of a manor

Manorialism

– a division of land in medieval England – and was usually the home of the local lord. Fortified manor houses are considered castles because they often had battlement

Battlement

A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...

s or crenellations.

Due to its border with Wales, Cheshire played an important role in defending England against the Welsh. Many castles were built along the border, and 8 of the 20 castles in Cheshire are within 4 miles (6.4 km) of the Welsh border. Castles along the border were constructed when the Norman invasion of Wales

Norman invasion of Wales

The Norman invasion of Wales began shortly after the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror, who believed England to be his birthright...

was slowed by Welsh opposition; when conquest was swift, there was less need for fortifications. Compared to north Wales, relatively few castles are found in Cheshire since many, such as Holt Castle

Holt Castle

Holt Castle was a medieval castle in the town of Holt, Wrexham Borough, Wales. Work began in the 13th century during the Welsh Wars, the castle was sited on the Welsh-English border by the banks of the River Dee....

, were built on the western side of the River Dee

River Dee, Wales

The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....

. Most of these castles were motte-and-baileys and were originally of turf and timber construction, although they were sometimes later replaced by stone structures if a long-term castle was needed. Away from the borders, baronial castles were built in Cheshire and were a status symbol. The castles in Cheshire were built over a period of several centuries, with the earliest in 1070 and the latest in the 15th century. Most, 12 out of 20, were built between 1070 and the end of the 12th century. Of the three castles in Cheshire known to have been built after the 13th century, they are either tower houses or fortified manor houses; this type of structure was more important as a feudal residence than a military structure and reflects the national trend of castles after the 13th century being used as a symbol of authority rather than primarily military.

Most of the castles are in a ruinous state, having been abandoned after they fulfilled their military purpose. The remains are often protected by law: 11 sites are Scheduled Monuments, and 5 are listed buildings. A Scheduled Ancient Monument is a "nationally important" archaeological site

Archaeological site

An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...

or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. As well as the 20 known castles in Cheshire, historian Mike Salter in his 2001 gazetteer

Gazetteer

A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary or directory, an important reference for information about places and place names , used in conjunction with a map or a full atlas. It typically contains information concerning the geographical makeup of a country, region, or continent as well as the social...

of the castles in Cheshire and Lancashire

Lancashire

lists Mud Hill in Coddington

Coddington, Cheshire

Coddington is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.Coddington is home to descendants of the Great Richard Yeoward, who practically made Tenerife become know single handedly for its brilliant shipping and tasty...

(53.091352°N 2.817631°W) and Peel Hall near Manley

Manley, Cheshire

right|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Manley within the former borough of Vale RoyalManley is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north west of England.-External links:...

(53.221258°N 2.7497°W) as possible sites of castles.

List of castles

Castle	Location	Type	Constructed	Scheduled Monument	Notes
Aldford Castle Aldford Castle Aldford Castle is in the village of Aldford in Cheshire to the north of the church .It was founded by Richard de Aldford as a motte and bailey castle in the 12th century. Some fragments of the stonework around the bailey and significant earthworks survive. It overlooked a ford across the River...	Aldford Aldford Aldford is a village and civil parish in the county of Cheshire, England, south of Chester . It has a population of 213.The village lies on the east bank of the River Dee... 53.1304°N 2.8698°W	Motte-and-bailey and shell keep	0912th century	Yes	The motte, which survives to a height of 5.2 m (17.1 ft), is surrounded by a 10 m (32.8 ft) wide and 2.4 m (7.9 ft) deep ditch. The bailey is surrounded by a 2 m (6.6 ft) deep 18 m (59.1 ft) wide ditch, and is triangular in shape, covering an area of 4250 sqm. A later manor house was probably built on the motte.
Beeston Castle Beeston Castle Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England , perched on a rocky sandstone crag above the Cheshire Plain. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, , on his return from the Crusades...	Beeston Beeston, Cheshire Beeston is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in the north of England. It is south of Tarporley, and close to the Shropshire Union Canal. Beeston Castle nearby is a spectacular clifftop ruin in the care of English... 53.127894°N 2.690455°W	Enclosure	131220s	Yes	Beeston Castle is on a crag 90 m (295.3 ft) above the surrounding countryside, at the northern end of the Peckforton Hills. The site is strategically strong because of its natural defences and overlooks the surrounding area for miles. It has an outer and inner bailey and no motte; this, coupled with strong defensive walls and gatehouse and no inner keep means it is an enclosure type castle. The inner bailey is surrounded by a sheer drop on three sides, and is protected by a 9 m (29.5 ft) deep ditch on the fourth side. The curtain wall Curtain wall (fortification) A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult.... of the outer bailey was 2 m (6.6 ft) thick. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, and is similar in design to Bolingbroke Castle Bolingbroke Castle Bolingbroke Castle is a ruined castle in Bolingbroke Lincolnshire, England.-Construction:Most of the castle is built of Spilsby greenstone, as are several nearby churches. The local greenstone is a limestone that proved to be porous, prone to rapid deterioration when exposed to weather and a... in Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... which he built around the same time. The castle passed into the possession of the Crown when John le Scot, Blondeville's heir, died in 1237. Beeston Castle was involved in the Second Barons' War Second Barons' War The Second Barons' War was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of barons led by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward , in the name of Henry III.-Causes:... (1264–1265) when it was captured by Prince Edward Edward I of England Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons... from Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and... . In the English Civil War it was captured by the Parliamentarians Cavalier Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration... and then recaptured by the Royalists Roundhead "Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings... before being slighted Slighting A slighting is the deliberate destruction, partial or complete, of a fortification without opposition. During the English Civil War this was to render it unusable as a fort.-Middle Ages:... in 1646 to render its defences useless. The castle is protected as a Grade I listed building and is now a museum.
Bradlegh Old Hall	Burtonwood Burtonwood Burtonwood and Westbrook is a civil parish in the outermost suburbs of Warrington in Cheshire, England. Historically within Lancashire, the name Burtonwood is known worldwide as the location of the former RAF Station Burtonwood military camp. Burtonwood village itself is a few miles away from the... 53.4399°N 2.6463°W	Fortified manor house	1915th century	Yes	The hall was built as a manor house in the 15th century with a moat and a fortified gatehouse. It was owned by the Legh family Leghs of Lyme The Leghs of Lyme are a family who owned Lyme Park in Cheshire, England, from 1398 to 1946, when the house and estate were given to the National Trust. In the early days of the family there were variations of both the surname, and the usually-given forename. Variations of the surname include de... who owned Lyme Park Lyme Park Lyme Park is a large estate located south of Disley, Cheshire, England. It consists of a mansion house surrounded by formal gardens, in a deer park in the Peak District National Park... . Additions were made in the 16th century, and the structure was encased in brick in the 18th century. The ruinous gateway, which was built in 1460, is a Grade II* listed building. Only the gateway and moat survive from the 15th century hall.
Chester Castle Chester Castle Chester Castle is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is sited at the southwest extremity of the area bounded by the city walls . The castle stands on an eminence overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex are the remaining parts of the medieval castle together with the...	Chester Chester Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the... 53.185091°N 2.890729°W	Motte-and-bailey (also a possible ringwork)	011070	Yes	Chester Castle was built in 1070 by William the Conqueror William I of England William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II... . Originally a motte-and-bailey castle constructed from timber and turf, it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. The castle underwent many periods of construction, with an outer bailey, new towers along the inner bailey, new structures within the castle walls, and a new gatehouse all added in the 13th century, during the Welsh Wars. Chester Castle was given by William I to the Earls of Chester Earl of Chester The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The... and it served as the administrative centre of the earldom. It passed into the possession of the Crown on the extinction of the line of earls in 1237. After the 13th century, most expenditure on the castle was to maintain it rather than aggrandise it as happened with other castles such as Warwick Castle Warwick Castle Warwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century,... . When the medieval castle was destroyed by fire in the 18th century, only the Agricola Tower survived. The tower (also known as Caesar's Tower) and the curtain wall Curtain wall (fortification) A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult.... s are Grade I listed buildings.
Doddington Castle Delves Hall Delves Hall, also known as Doddington Castle, is a fortified structure in Doddington Park to the north of Doddington Hall in the civil parish of Doddington, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building....	Doddington Doddington, Cheshire Doddington is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, which lies to the north east of Audlem and to the south of Crewe. Nearby villages include Blakenhall, Bridgemere, Checkley, Hatherton, Walgherton and Wybunbury... 53.019424°N 2.434224°W	Tower house	171364–1403	No	Doddington Castle was built in 1364–1403 by Sir John Delves. He acquired a licence to crenellate and erected a free-standing tower separate from his mansion. In the 17th century, the tower was incorporated into a series of domestic houses. When these houses were demolished in 1777, the tower was retained as a landscape feature. The castle is three storeys high and made from sandstone. It is protected as a Grade I listed building.
Dodleston Castle	Dodleston Dodleston Dodleston is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, situated on the border between England and Wales... 53.140902°N 2.954703°W	Motte-and-bailey	20Medieval	Yes	The 3.3 m (10.8 ft) high motte is surrounded by a 2.3 m (7.5 ft) deep ditch. The bailey, to the west of the motte, is surrounded by a rampart and ditch; the ditch is 12 m (39.4 ft) wide and is up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft) deep, while the rampart survives to a height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). Dodlestone Castle was the seat of the Boydell family. The site has been damaged by landscaping and construction work. A later mansion was built on the site for the Manley family of Lache Lache Lache is in the city of Chester Cheshire, U.K., with a population of around 10,000. It is located approximately 2 miles southwest of the ancient city, with good local transport links en route to Saltney... , and this building was probably used in the English Civil War as Sir William Brereton Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet was an English writer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1659. He was a commander in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.... 's headquarters during the Siege of Chester Siege of Chester The Siege of Chester was a siege of the First English Civil War, between February 1645 and January 1646, with an intermission during the summer of 1645.... .
Frodsham Castle Frodsham Castle Frodsham Castle was in the market town of Frodsham, Cheshire, England .Initially it served a military purpose, it then became a manor house and a gaol...	Frodsham Frodsham Frodsham is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Its population is 8,982. It is approximately south of Runcorn, 16 miles south of Liverpool, and approximately south-west of Manchester... 53.29236°N 2.729414°W	Unknown	021070	No	Frodsham Castle is located at the foot of Overton Hill in the western part of the town of Frodsham. It guarded a pass between the hill and Frodsham Marsh. The castle was probably built by Hugh Lupus Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester Hugh d'Avranches , also known as le Gros and Lupus was the first Earl of Chester and one of the great magnates of early Norman England.-Early career:... , the first Earl of Chester Earl of Chester The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The... . In 1355, Frodsham Castle was recorded as requiring repair. The Norman castle collapsed in the 14th century and was replaced by a fortified manor house. This was destroyed by fire in 1654. Although there are no visible traces of the structure, some of the foundations were incorporated into the cellars of Castle Park, a building constructed on the site in 1721.
Halton Castle Halton Castle Halton Castle is in the former village of Halton which is now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The castle is situated on the top of Halton Hill, a sandstone prominence overlooking the village...	Halton Halton, Cheshire Halton, formerly a separate village, is now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The name Halton has been assumed by the Borough of Halton, which includes Runcorn, Widnes and some outlying parishes.-Geography:... , Runcorn Runcorn Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north... 53.332844°N 2.694361°W	Motte-and-bailey• •	03c. 1070	Yes	Halton Castle is on the summit of Halton Hill and overlooks the estuary of the River Mersey. Halton Castle was probably built in the late 11th century for Nigel of Cotentin, the first Baron of Halton Barony of Halton The Barony of Halton, in Cheshire, England, comprised a succession of 15 barons who held under the overlordship of the County Palatine of Chester ruled by the Earl of Chester. It was not therefore an English feudal barony which was under full royal jurisdiction, which is the usual sense of the... . The first timber castle was replaced by the current stone structure in the 12th century. The castle passed into the possession of the crown when the 15th baron, Henry Bolingbroke, ascended to the throne as Henry IV Henry IV of England Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke... . Although used as a prison and centre of administration in the Tudor period Tudor period The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII... , by 1609 the structure was in a state of disrepair. The castle was used in the English Civil War, but afterwards its defences were dismantled. After that, the castle was allowed to deteriorate. The ruins of the castle are protected as a Grade I listed building.
Kingsley Castle Kingsley Castle Kingsley Castle, also known as Castle Cob, a medieval motte in Kingsley, Cheshire . It is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The motte is a cone shaped mound, high; it has a diameter of at the base and tapers to at the top. It is artificial and made from black soil.Historians used to think...	Manley Manley, Cheshire right\|thumb\|200px\|Map of civil parish of Manley within the former borough of Vale RoyalManley is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north west of England.-External links:... 53.2558°N 2.6998°W	Motte	07Medieval, possibly Norman	Yes	The motte survives to a height of 2.8 m (9.2 ft) and is 23 m (75.5 ft) in diameter. There is no trace of a surrounding ditch or a bailey associated with the motte. There are the remains of a summerhouse on the side of the motte, not contemporary with the medieval castle.
Macclesfield Castle Macclesfield Castle Macclesfield Castle was a fortified manor house/castle in Macclesfield, Cheshire . John de Macclesfield began construction of the castle in 1398. It was made from sandstone, and was square with projecting wings. Alterations were made in the 15th century, and it passed through the hands of two...	Macclesfield Macclesfield Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688... 53.258926°N 2.12421°W	Fortified manor house	181398	No	Located in the town of Macclesfield, the castle was built by John de Macclesfield in the late 14th–early 15th century, probably because of the crisis towards the end of Richard II's Richard II of England Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III... reign. The castle was square with projecting wings, and measured 130 by. After de Macclesfield died in 1422, the castle passed through the possession of two families of earls, one of which was the Earl of Buckingham Earl of Buckingham The peerage title Earl of Buckingham was created several times in the Peerage of England.It was first created in 1097 for Walter Giffard, but became extinct in 1164 with the death of the second earl. It may have been created again in 1164 for Richard de Clare , who died without issue in 1176... 's family, after which the castle became known as Buckingham Palace. It was altered in the 15th century, and by 1585 was ruinous. By the 20th century, only the porch was still standing, and this was demolished in 1932 and shops and cottages were built on the site.
Malpas Castle	Malpas Malpas, Cheshire Malpas is a large village which used to be a market town, and it is also a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish lies on the border with Shropshire and Wales... 53.019549°N 2.765804°W	Motte	10Probable 12th century	Yes	Malpas Castle is in the Broxton Hills and was built for the Barons of Malpas. It was part of a series of defences along the Welsh border, and was linked with Aldford and Shocklach castles (Shocklach was also built by the Barons of Malpas). Its links with Alford and Shocklach castles and the Barons of Malpas means it was probably built in the 12th century. The motte survives to 3.7 metres (12.1 ft) in height and is 37 m (40.5 yd) in diameter and is surrounded by a ditch. Although there is no sign of a bailey, there was probably one to the south of the motte; the site today is heavily disturbed and covered in grass.
Nantwich Castle Nantwich Castle Nantwich Castle was a Norman castle in Nantwich, Cheshire, England, built before 1180 to guard a ford across the River Weaver. The castle is first documented in 1288. It was last recorded in 1462, and was in ruins by 1485...	Nantwich Nantwich Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich... 53.066452°N 2.521413°W	Unknown	15Before 1180	No	Nantwich Castle lay in ruins by 1485. No trace survives, and Castle Street and Mill Street are on the site.
Newhall Tower	Newhall Newhall, Cheshire Newhall is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village lies 3½ miles to the west of Audlem and 5 miles to the south west of Nantwich... 53.0046°N 2.5820°W	Tower house	14c. 1227	No	Newhall Tower was probably built in 1227 for the Audley family when they gained ownership of the land, but it is first documented in 1275. It was still in use in 1363, but was ruinous by the late 16th century. The site of the castle is uncertain, but a series of earthworks with a central mound and a square ditch is the likeliest location.
Northwich Castle	Northwich Northwich Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane... 53.259°N 2.518°W	Motte	11Probable 12th century	No	The castle is first referred to in the 1190s, and again in 1278. Excavations have not revealed the location of the castle.
Oldcastle Oldcastle, Cheshire Oldcastle is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 54.-External links:...	Oldcastle 52.991681°N 2.792876°W	Unknown	1613th century	No	The first documented evidence of Oldcastle comes from 1288. By 1485, the castle was ruinous. Little is known about the castle, although it was surrounded by two defensive ditches. One ditch began silting up in the 13th century and was filled in during the late 14th–early 15th centuries, while the other was in use until the 15th century.
Pulford Castle Pulford Castle Pulford Castle is in the village of Pulford, Cheshire, England. It is located immediately to the south of St Mary's Church . It is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.-History:...	Pulford Pulford Pulford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the B5445 road, to the south west of Chester and on the border with Wales. It is believed that the name of the village is derived from the... 53.121069°N 2.933267°W	Motte-and-bailey	12Late 12th century	Yes	Pulford Castle is first documented in 1190–1220. Having been built by the Ormesbee family, the castle was given to the Pulford family in 1245. In 1403, Henry IV Henry IV of England Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke... ordered Sir Thomas le Grosvenor to hold the castle against Owen Glendower.• • The motte is surrounded by a ditch apart from in the south, where Pulford Brook forms part of the defences. The motte survives to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) and measures 11 by at the summit.
Shipbrook Castle	Davenham Davenham Davenham is a rural village and civil parish approximately south of the town of Northwich, part of the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 5,655. The village is close to the A556 and A533 roads and both the River Dane and... 53.235692°N 2.489153°W	Unknown	0511th–12th centuries	No	The exact location of Shipbrook Castle is uncertain, but it is thought to be on Castle Hill near Shipbrook Bridge. During the Welsh Wars, baronial castles were built as a form of defence, and Shipbrook Castle was one of these. It was demolished in around 1850.
Shocklach Castle	Shocklach Shocklach Shocklach is a village in the civil parishes of Church Shocklach and Shocklach Oviatt, Cheshire, England.St Edith's Church, Shocklach is a Grade I listed building.-External links:... 53.051612°N 2.843735°W	Fortified manor house	061100	Yes	Shocklach Castle is on the edge of a steep ravine. The earliest fortification on the site is a motte surrounded by a ditch; the motte survives to a height of 4 m (13.1 ft) from the bottom of the ditch. Although there is no bailey connected to the motte, there is a D-shaped enclosure 30 m (98.4 ft) east of the motte. The enclosure near the motte was the site of a fortified manor house and was surrounded by a moat; it was the successor fortification from the earlier motte and it thought to have been built around 1100 for the Barons of Malpas. Shocklach Castle was part of a series of defences along the Welsh border, and was linked with Aldford and Malpas castles.
Shotwick Castle Shotwick Castle Shotwick Castle was a medieval fortification near the village of Saughall, Cheshire, England. It is a scheduled monument.-History:Hugh Lupus, 1st Earl of Chester had Shotwick Castle built about 1093. The design encompassed an earth motte with an outer bailey above the River Dee...	Shotwick Shotwick Shotwick is a village and civil parish on the Wirral Peninsula in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England... 53.226871°N 2.974293°W	Motte-and-bailey	04Probably pre-1093	Yes	It is located on a steep escarpment Escarpment An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:... which was on the shore of the Dee estuary when the castle was built; it is protected by streams on two sides and guarded a ford over the River Dee. The motte is an irregular hexagon and measures 40 m (131.2 ft) north-south and 20 m (65.6 ft) east-west. A kidney-shaped bailey next to the motte measures 80 m (262.5 ft) north-south and 38 m (124.7 ft) east-west. A ditch surrounds the bailey varying between 15 metre wide and 2.2 metre deep. Shotwick Castle was probably built by Hugh Lupus, 1st Earl of Chester Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester Hugh d'Avranches , also known as le Gros and Lupus was the first Earl of Chester and one of the great magnates of early Norman England.-Early career:... , in the late 11th century, although the castle was first documented in 1260. It was used as border defence against the Welsh until peace was achieved in 1281. After this, it fell out of use as a military castle, and became part of a royal manor and game park for Edward III Edward III of England Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe... . Shotwick Castle was ruinous by 1621 and demolished in 1756. The castle survives as earthworks but has been damaged by treasure hunters and ploughing, and is now used as pasture.
Warrington Castle	Warrington Warrington Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens... 53.387°N 2.603°W	Motte-and-bailey	08Medieval, possibly Norman	No	Warrington Castle is on a slight prominence 230 m (251.5 yd) north of the bank of the River Mersey, overlooking a ford and its approaches. The motte was surrounded by a ditch and oval in shape, measuring 49 by and survives to a height of 2.7 m (9 ft) in 1908. The bailey was defended by a rampart and ditch. It was probably built in the Norman period, and the residence of the Lords of the Manor of Warrington until they moved to Bewsey Hall in Burtonwood Burtonwood Burtonwood and Westbrook is a civil parish in the outermost suburbs of Warrington in Cheshire, England. Historically within Lancashire, the name Burtonwood is known worldwide as the location of the former RAF Station Burtonwood military camp. Burtonwood village itself is a few miles away from the... . Warrington Castle was the largest motte-and-bailey castle in Lancashire. By 1587, the castle was in a state of decay. Although the site was reused in the English Civil War English Civil War The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists... , it otherwise slips out of records after 1587 and was probably left derelict. No trace of the castle remains, and the site is occupied by a park.

Alternative names

Some of the castles in the list have more than one name. Where this is the case, the alternative names are listed here.

Also known as Delves Hall

Also known as Castle Cob

Also known as Buckingham Palace and Buckingham Castle

Also known as Castle Hill

Also known as The Mount, The Motte, and Moat Hill

List of castles

Alternative names

See also