Bailey Hill is a possibly 12th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by the de Furnivals. The castle stands on a plateau with a steep slope to the west and low ground to the south and east. On its vulnerable northern side is the steep sided motte, encased by a broad ditch but its southern side has been mutilated to provide access to what is now a very narrow summit. On the southern side of the triangular bailey is a lofty rampart, encased by a deep ditch, while on the steep western scarp, only a low bank remains of a probable timber palisade. There is no obvious approach to the castle and like Castle Hill the earthworks are constructed of heaped stone. With the dense cover of trees, the site is best viewed in winter.
|