Rochdale Castle Hill

In the civil parish of Rochdale. In the historic county of Lancashire (Modern Authority of Rochdale, 1974 county of Greater Manchester).

The motte and bailey, built in the early post-Conquest period, stood on what is now Castle Hill. The mound, 100ft across at the base and flat-topped, stood at the apex of a triangular platform. The bailey to the South was an irregular square, approximately 120ft from North-South by 100ft East to West. It was surrounded by an earth rampart and ditch with a second ditch added to the South and South-East. The castle was abandoned in early C13.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SD89121286

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 45159
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/Rochdale_Castle
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern) p38
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p247
    Gibson, Leslie Irving, 1977, Lancashire Castles and Towers (Dalesman Books)
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Gardner, 1908, in Farrer, William and Brownbill, J. (eds), VCH Lancaster Vol2 p538
• Journal Articles
  • Fishwick, H., 1901, 'The Old Castles of Lancashire.' Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society Vol19 p46-8