The Gatehouse website record for Bowden Watch Hill

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Dunham Massey; Castle Hill; Yarwood Castle

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. (PastScape)
Isolated from settlement but does overlook a crossing point of the River Bollin. The archaeology, history and location do suggest this was a military castle, built for military reasons. The baronial castle of Hamon de Masci, mentioned by MacKenzie may well have been 'the mount' at Bunham Massey Hall, which is a manorial centre.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ74858597

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 74893
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 51111*0 '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.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

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