Repton Motte

In the civil parish of Repton. In the historic county of Derbyshire (Modern Authority of Derbyshire, 1974 county of Derbyshire).

Defensive ditch discovered on excavation North of Priory possibly of a motte. No visible remains. Royal manor at Repton recorded in Domesday, but later held by Earl of Chester. Repton was an important Viking and Saxon centre and a major crossing point of the Trent.
Recent excavations by Dr Martin Biddle have revealed traces of a motte-and-bailey timber castle at Repton, held at that period by Ranulph II 'de Gemon', Earl of Chester (Turbutt)
In the early twelfth century a small but strongly defended motte and bailey castle was built on the Repton bluff to control the fords across the river, a link in Earl Ranulf of Chester's string of fortresses along the middle and upper Trent. Following Ranulf's death in 1153, his widow Matilda, Countess of Chester, founded an Augustinian Priory on the site of the castle, close beside the east end of the ancient church. (http://www.reptonchurch.org.uk/ChristinR.htm no author no citations)
Seemingly missed by the usual authors of castle studies. Not in PastScape, as a motte, although may be under a different description. Biddle and Kjølbye-Biddle were clearly most interested in Viking and Anglo-Saxon remains and their report may have been overlooked by post-Conquest scholars.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SK303272

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

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.

• Books
  • Turbutt, Gladwyn, 1999, A History of Derbyshire Vol2 (Merton Priory Press) Chap8 note 5
    Rowley, T.,1997, Norman England (London: Batsford) p72
• Journal Articles
  • Biddle, Martin and Kjølbye-Biddle, Birthe, 1992, 'Repton and the Vikings' Antiquity Vol66 p36-51
    1970, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal Vol90 p88 [Domesday reference]
• Guidebooks
  • Repton Village History Group, 1982, Repton Trail