Alderton Ringwork

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castle Mound; The Mount; Alderingtune

In the civil parish of Grafton Regis. In the historic county of Northamptonshire (Modern Authority of Northamptonshire, 1974 county of Northamptonshire).

Triangular ringwork. Excavation finds suggest C11 foundation, possibly on site of existing Saxon site and abandonment in late C14 or early C15. A surrounding ditch remains up to 5m deep but modern housing has encroached on part of the site. On a map of 1726 the ditch is shown as filled with water and the area is called Castle Mound. Between 1154 and 1204 it was in the stewardship of Malquencu (sub Warrenne).

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP74084697

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 343046
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Web site links
  • http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/archive/2001ald.html
• Books
  • Riden, Philip and Insley Charles (eds), 2002, 'Alderton' VCH Northamptonshire Vol5 p39-58
    Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern) p70
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p315
    RCHME, 1982, 'Motte or ringwork' in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the County of Northampton Vol4, South-west Northamptonshire (HMSO) p61-2
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Downman, E.A., 1906, in Serjeantson, R.M., Ryland, W. and Adkins, D. (eds), VCH Northampton Vol2 p403
    Bridges, John, 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northampshire (Oxford) Vol1 p280
• Journal Articles
  • 2001, South Midlands Archaeology Vol31 p39-40
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 p249-280 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p90-121] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
• Guidebooks
  • Kliene, J.S., 2001, The Mount. A short history with illustrations
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Time Team (Mike Aston et al), 2001 (1st broadcast), 'The Man Who Bought A Castle' Time Team TV Programme (Time Team, a Videotext/Picture House production for Channel 4)