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.
Recent excavations (2007) have found substantial masonry foundations of a 2.8m thick curtain wall and large rectangular gate tower of C12 date. This 'ringwork' seems to have a masonry castle built by the Earls of Chester as a high status building.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SD98290161

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 45924
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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckton_Castle
    http://carrbrookvillage.users.btopenworld.com/buckton.htm
    http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=3838
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/buckton.html
• Books
  • Grimsditch, Brian, Nevell, Mike and Redhead, Norman, 2007, Buckton Castle: an archaeological evaluation of a medieval ringwork - an interim report (University of Manchester Archaeological Trust)
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern) p23
    Nevell, Michael and Walker, John, 1999, Tameside in Transition (Tameside Metropolitian Borough Council with the University of Manchester Archaeological Trust) p95
    Nevell, Michael, 1998, Lands and Lordships in Tameside (Tameside Metropolitian Borough Council with the University of Manchester Archaeological Trust) p60-61, 63
    Nevell, Michael, 1991, A history and archaeology of Tameside: Tameside 1066-1700 p115-9
    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
  • Nevell, M., Redhead, N. and Grimsditch, B., 2008, 'Buckton Castle' Current Archaeology Vol19.9 no225 p32-37
    2008, 'Lost castle solves riddle of Buckon Moor' Castle Studies Group Bulletin Vol10 issue1 p2 [news report of 2007 excavations]
    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, John, 1779, 'An account of some hitherto undescribed remains of antiquity' Archaeologia Vol5 p87-9 and plate IV
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Tindall, A. S., 1981, Bucton Castle, Mossley. A report