Castle Hill, Thetford

Castle Hill is the site of a fortified earthwork in the town of Thetford, Norfolk, in the United Kingdom. Located to the southeast of the town centre, it has been a fortification since the Iron Age. The last people to develop it were the Normans, and it has remained the highest Norman motte in England, though no trace remains of the timber castle which was built at the top of the motte in the Middle Ages.

Description

The site consists of a large, man-made hill approximately high, which is the main motte. This is surrounded by a defensive ditch around deep. The north side of the motte has a large rampart rising around above the lowest point of the ditch, with a secondary defensive ditch and rampart a few metres farther to the north. The bailey (courtyard) lies to the east of the motte and is around across at its widest point. To the north of this bailey is a 4-metre-high rampart which is now home to several large oak, chestnut and sycamore trees.

Iron Age fortification

The entire site—the motte, bailey and ramparts—is made from earth and chalk and flint rubble, presumably dug very locally. It is one of Britain's largest man-made Iron Age defensive structures, though there is no record of how large or extensive the site was during its early years. Excavations have suggested that the ramparts may have continued along the east, south and west perimeters, though there is almost nothing left of any of these earthworks now.It is suggested that the site was initially...
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