Bowden Watch Hill

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Dunham Massey; Castle Hill

In the civil parish of Altrincham.
In the historic county of Cheshire (Modern Authority of Trafford, 1974 county of Greater Manchester).

Well preserved medieval motte and bailey castle situated on a promontory. The motte is 6m high and 40m broad at the base. It is surrounded by a ditch 5m wide which is 3m deep with a possible original ramp or entrance work on the eastern side. The bailey is on the promontory to the east of the motte. It is an enclosed platform in the shape of a triangle with the eastern side 80m long and the other two sides 60m long. The Motte was excavated in 1976, 1977 and in 1985. These excavations suggest that the motte was speedily erected, possibly during the rebellion of Hammon de Massey against Henry II in 1173. A modern boundary stone lies in the bottom of the ditch on the west side of the motte.

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 SJ74858597

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; 74893

Books

Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p12
Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)

Journal Articles

Brown, K. and Johnson, B., 1985, ‘Watch Hill, Bowden' Greater Manchester Archaeological Journal Vol1 p35–7

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This record last updated on Friday, April 6, 2007

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