Eastcotts Castle was a
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
castle located in the parish of
Eastcotts
Eastcotts is an electoral ward within the Borough of Bedford. It was formerly also a civil parish until its abolition on 1 April 2019, when Cotton End and Shortstown parishes were established.
The boundaries of Eastcotts are approximately Exe ...
, at the edge of Exeter Wood, in the county of
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council wa ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
Eastcotts Castle is believed to have been constructed during the late 11th, or early 12th, centuries. It was a small
motte castle
A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade. Relatively easy to ...
, made of timber, located on the northern edge of the
Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge
Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge is an escarpment which runs through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire in the south and east of England. A pathway runs along the ridge from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay.
In 2009, the Greensand Ridg ...
. It was in a prime location, overlooking the village of
Cardington, as well as the
River Ouse.
Only
earthworks
Earthworks may refer to:
Construction
*Earthworks (archaeology), human-made constructions that modify the land contour
* Earthworks (engineering), civil engineering works created by moving or processing quantities of soil
*Earthworks (military), m ...
remain at the site, which is a
Scheduled Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
, located in Exeter Wood, 780m south east of Wood Farm.
See also
*
Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
Castles have played an important military, economic and social role in Great Britain and Ireland since their introduction following the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Although a small number of castles had been built in England in the 10 ...
*
List of castles in England
This list of castles in England is not a list of every building and site that has "castle" as part of its name, nor does it list only buildings that conform to a strict definition of a castle as a medieval fortified residence. It is not a li ...
References
External links
* {{PastScape, mnumber=362774 , mname=, accessdate=, ref=none
Castles in Bedfordshire
Scheduled monuments in Bedfordshire