Home | Books | Links
| Fortifications and Castles | Other
Information | Help | Downloads
| Author Information | Contact
Buckton Castle
In the civil parish of Mossley.
In the historic county of Lancashire (Modern Authority of Oldham, 1974 county of Greater Manchester).
Medieval ringwork castle and the remains of a bailey on the northern side. The ringwork is constructed as a raised platform 35m by 40m and is roughly rectangular. A road with traces of pavement, and two ditches, apparently outworks, are recorded leading to the castle on the north side. Two gold bead chains have been found on the site. The site was used as a beacon in C16 and C17. Four trenches excavated in, 1996,in the unscheduled 'bailey' area as part of a wider study of the ringwork, which also comprised documentary and topographical surveys. Results from the trenches indicated that the supposed bailey is of recent origin, probably associated with the nearby quarry, and not of medieval date. Four test-pits excavated in the interior of the castle, in1998, to assess the survival of the monument following 140 years of treasure hunting damage. Redeposited ditch material was identified overlying charcoal and peat layers which were carbon dated to AD 765-1010;AD 700-1000 & AD 570-765. It appears that this site is also assumed to be an Iron Age hill fort.
This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence
that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Earthworks remains.
This site is a scheduled
monument protected by law.
The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SD98290161
PastScape number;
45924
Books
- Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern) p23
Michael Nevell, 1991, A history and archaeology of Tameside: Tameside 1066-1700 pp115-9
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p244-5
Gardner, 1908, in Farrer, William and Brownbill, J. (eds), VCH Lancaster Vol2 p516
Aikin, 1795, Description of the Country round Manchester (London) p471-2
Journal Articles
- Booth, K. and Cronin, J., 1987-88 'Buckton Castle -a survey of the evidence' Greater Manchester Archaeological Journal. Vol3 p.61-66
King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
Forde-Johnston, J., 1962, Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society Vol72 No16 p11-12
Harrison, 1907, Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society Vol25 p147
Andrew, 1892, Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society Vol10 p52-4
Watson, 1779, Archaeologia Vol5 p87-9 and plate IV
Other sources and unpublished works (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
- Tindall, A. S., 1981, Bucton Castle, Mossley. A report
Most of the sites or buildings
recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission
to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant |
The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English
Heritage and other individuals and organisations. |
It is an offence to disturb a
Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of
everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site
without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation. |
Please help me to make this as
useful a resource as possible by contacting
me if you see errors
or if you can add information.
I do acknowledge the help I get with
this site. |
¤¤¤¤¤
