Cuckney Castle, Motte-and-bailey castle in Norton and Cuckney, England.
Cuckney Castle is an 11th-century Norman fortress whose remains show an elevated earthwork mound with traces of stone building and surrounding ditch defenses. The site preserves the typical raised profile of a motte-and-bailey design from the medieval period.
Thomas de Cuckney founded this military stronghold in the 11th century to secure the area. The fortress was later destroyed during the period of civil conflict known as The Anarchy under King Stephen.
The site sits beside St. Mary's Church, showing how medieval communities integrated spiritual and defensive spaces into their settlements. This proximity reflects a common pattern in English village planning of the period.
The castle remains sit at the edge of the churchyard and are reached through local walking paths near the village. The low mound and surrounding ditch can be viewed from nearby routes, though sturdy footwear helps on softer ground.
Excavations in the 1950s uncovered a mass burial containing around 200 skeletal remains near the castle site in a trench. This discovery hints at violence or conflict tied to the fortress's destruction.
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