Castle Hill, Almondbury. Yorkshire

Castle Hill, Almondbury, was originally an ironage hillfort. In the 12th century King Stephen granted permission for the construction of a stone castle on the site. This castle was accompanied by a village that remained occupied in the 15th century. The site of the castle itself was inhabited until the 19th century, though the site is better known locally for its use as a beacon hill when the Spanish Armada was spotted – and its preparation as a beacon during the Napoleonic Wars.

Iron Age Hillfort

The first use of Almondbury as a fortification was either in the late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age as there is archaeological evidence of a univallate [single earthwork] hillfort at the site which predates a later multivallate [multiple earthwork defences] construction. The site is quite dominant, overlooking the valley of the River Colne and the area in which Huddersfield now stands.

The earliest earthwork is believed to date from the 7th century BC and measures 3 metres wide. It enclosed an area roughly 2 hectares in size. Post holes have been identified in the remains of the earthwork which strongly suggest that a wooden palisade fence was incorporated into the defences.

Archaeological finds suggest that around one hundred years later a ditch was dug around this earthwork. At the same time the earthwork itself was improved. This was done by widening it, presumably making it higher as well, and the incorporation of stone revetments to minimise the damage done to the banks from the weather: Castle Hill at Almondbury is quite exposed.

Another hundred years (or so) later a further ring of earthworks were added outside of the earlier settlement. These were again accompanied by ditches. A series of banks were also constructed that formed a defensible entrance way through the outer to inner earthworks. In places there is evidence of a shale embankment having been in place, alongside deep cuts into the ground. All in all, it was a complex structure with several defensive lines, a strong entrance, and a combination of earth, stone, timber, and shale defences atop a reasonably steep hill.

The iron age settlement and defences seem to have been abandoned around 500 BC. Evidence of vitrification in places along the defences suggest that the site may have been assaulted, or subject to an accidental fire.

King Stephen and a Castle at Almondbury

King Stephen granted permission for the site to be crenellated. The construction was a Motte and Bailey Castle. Within the inner earthwork of an earlier age a wide ditch was dug. This was 27 metres wide and 9 metres deep. It was situated at the south western edge of the original earthwork and so had a series of existing earthworks and ditches beyond the ditch. The earth moved to create the large ditch was utilised to create a Motte and added to earthworks to renovate these into a Norman style rampart.

The initial building was timber, with stone being used on the Motte and Ramparts once the land had settled sufficiently. Through reuse of the Iron Age site, a large and easily defendable Motte and Bailey was built which could make use of the earlier earthworks to set out the site of the Motte, Bailey and outer areas. The existence of rings of earthworks also provided for the development of a settlement around the castle.

Within the confines of the Medieval structure was a well some 27 metres deep. Archaeological finds here range from the 12th century through to 19th century, showing that the location remained inhabited well beyond the castle itself falling into disrepair.

Abandonment of the Castle

The Castle was held from Thomas Earl of Lancaster and was abandoned as a military site following his execution. The village itself continued to be inhabited though.

Alternative Fortifications: Fortified Manor Houses

One reason why the site in Almondbury was ot returned to as a defensible location was the emergence of the Fortified Manor House. These, often moated, sites were already beginning to appear in the Colne Valley when Castle Hill at Almondbury was abandoned. As the preeminent local gentry already had comfortable and defendable homes, a new or upgraded structure at Almondbury simply was not a priority at that time. Fortified Manor Houses from the 13-16th centuries that were nearby include Slaithwaith Hall, Bradley Hall [license to crenellate granted in 1477 by Edward IV], Thornhill Hall [dated 1450, licence to crenellate from Henry VI] and Crosland Hall. These and the fact that Almondbury and Huddersfield are reasonably close to major castles at Pontefract and Sandal made redevelopment of a site in Almondbury unneccesary.

15th century

The site is known to have been in use in the 15th century, though most probably only as a village rather than as a defended fortress. The village was based around the main pathway leading to the ramparts. Evidence shows that houses were constructed on each side of this thoroughfare, with strips of land extending behind these. Each strip of land was separated from its neighboring strips by a ditch, evidence of which remains visible. This provided the village with a structure of tenant strips much like those associated with the Norman era structure of a village settlement. Therefore there had been constant use for several centuries.

Churches

Castle Hill at Almonbury was developed after a church, still standing, was established nearby in the centre of Almondbury. All Hallow’s Church was certainly in place by the mid 12th century as there are windows from this date intact within the structure. Anglo-Saxon grave stabs in the graveyard suggest that a church was in situ prior to the Conquest. It is possible that the church was improved when lands in Almondbury were held by Illbert de Lacy. The de Lacy family certainly were responsible for the construction of what is now Huddersfield Parish Church, dating from the late 11th century. All Hallow’s Church in Almonbury was redesigned several times but in the main part the site remains largely 14/15th century in construction, with occasional earlier and later features.

Castle Hill, Almondbury. Links

Historic England – Official Listing of the site.

Heritage Gateway – Description of the site with a selection of suggested sources.

Gatehouse Gazetteer – Description and suggested sources about the castle.

Brigantes Nation – Castle Hill, Almondbury

West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service – pdf about the site.

University of Oxford – Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. EN1616 Castle Hill, Almondbury, Yorkshire

Featured Image

Castle Hill and Victoria Tower. By Alexander P Kapp. CC BY-SA 2.0. Via Wikimedia