Belford Westhall Motte

In the civil parish of Belford.
In the historic county of Northumberland (Modern Authority of Northumberland, 1974 county of Northumberland).

Earthworks survive, modern farm on site of a possible C11 Motte and Bailey. Later received C15 tower (qv). Recorded as moat to C15 Tower in SMR and PastScape. Although the presence of the later tower suggests this may have been a high status location the very nearby presence of a strong natural position and already existing Prehistoric camp at Chapel Crag (qv), which has a medieval chapel on it, would suggest this may not be the manorial centre. I can see no reason to build a motte when there is a more dramatic, better defended but still easily accessible site so close by. If there was a C11 or C12 castle at Belford I would suggest that the remains of the Chapel at NU10463449 suggest where it was located.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Questionable.
Cropmarks/slight earthworks remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NU10293398

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 7690

County Sites and Monuments Record number; N5114

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/75/belfordcastle.htm
• Books
  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Keepdate Publishing) p62-3
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles and Tower Houses of Northumberland (Malvern) p23
    Jackson, M.J.,1992, Castles of Northumbria (Carlise) p22, 25
    Rowland, T.H., 1987 [reprint1994], Medieval Castles, Towers, Peles and Bastles of Northumberland (Sandhill Press) p23
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p327