The Gatehouse website record for High Cross

In the civil parish of Lakes. In the historic county of Cumberland (Modern Authority of Cumbria, 1974 county of Cumbria).

Site of a possible motte and bailey (an early form of castle consisting of a flat-top steep-sided earthen mound, supporting a wooden tower, and a bailey) of Medieval date. According to Dr Welsh there is a site here which may either be natural, or a possible motte and bailey. "The summit comprises a rounded elevation 2m higher than adjacent ground to E, trapezoidal in shape, greatest axis 20m, the ground to E is 14m deep, max 30m wide, across the shoulders of two spurs and the slight depression between them. At this level the hill rises 3 to 4 metres on all sides over about 15m distance. N and especially S where deep are ditches formed by flanking co-curved ridges, which could be the result of melting ice, but as mentioned above, are rather suspect in this particular location. The site deserves some scrutiny in case it has been adapted for defensive use (Dr Welsh)." (Lake District HER)
Does not seem to be in PastScape. By a river crossing and a High Cross Castle placename nearby, although this, almost certainly, refers to a, nearby, Iron Age hillfort. Isolated from settlement. Nothing obvious on air photo. Clearly even the original reporter had doubts about this site and I consider it highly unlikely as a medieval castle.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY406015

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 15173 '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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