Rochdale Castle facts for kids
Rochdale Castle was an old castle in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It was a special type of castle called a motte-and-bailey. This kind of castle was built soon after the Norman conquest of England, which happened in 1066.
Contents
Rochdale Castle: A Look Back
Rochdale Castle was an important building many centuries ago. It helped protect the area and was a key part of the town's history.
What Was a Motte-and-Bailey Castle?
A motte-and-bailey castle was one of the first types of castles built in England by the Normans. It had two main parts:
- A motte was a big mound of earth, like a small hill. On top of this mound, a wooden tower or keep was built. This tower was a strong lookout point and a safe place.
- A bailey was a large, fenced-in area at the bottom of the motte. It was usually surrounded by a ditch and a wooden fence called a palisade. This area held buildings like stables, workshops, and homes for soldiers and workers.
When Was Rochdale Castle Built?
Rochdale Castle was built not long after the Normans took over England. This means it was likely built in the late 11th or early 12th century.
In the 12th century, many old documents, called charters, talked about "the village of the castle of Rachedal." This shows that the castle was a central part of the community. Around 1238, another document described the castle. It said the castle stood on high ground, looking over the valley of the River Roche. This area is still known as Castle Hill today.
What Happened to Rochdale Castle?
The castle was not used anymore by the early 13th century. This means it was abandoned, perhaps because it was no longer needed for defense, or maybe a stronger stone castle was built elsewhere. It was still mentioned in records in 1322, even though it was no longer active.
By 1626, a person named Gabriel Tayor had a house on the site. This house was also called Castle Hill. People at the time said it was on the "reputed site of a castle," but that the castle itself was "clean defaced." This means the castle had mostly disappeared and was hard to see. Over the years, other buildings were put up where the castle's bailey used to be. In the 19th century, a house was even built on the motte itself.
What Can We See Today?
Today, you can still see some signs of the old castle. The motte, the earth mound, is about 100 feet (about 30 meters) wide at its base. The bailey, the rectangular area next to it, measures about 120 feet (about 36 meters) by 100 feet (about 30 meters). The castle's defenses included an earth rampart, which was a raised bank of earth, and a ditch around it. These features helped protect the castle from attackers.
