Scheduled Ancient Monument: LIDGATE CASTLE (SF125)

1981: Earthworks as above. Agree that mounds appear to be one mound divided by a trench. W end of S ditch gradually filling up with churchyard rubbish, but with some masonry. E of this several sheets of corrugated iron have been dumped. Interior tree-planted. 1986: Whole monument is very overgrown with nettles and elder, which have invaded even the two areas of recent plantation: one of conifers and beech on the main (quadrangular) motte, and another of beech on the rectangular mound N of it. Earthworks as described in Part 1. Ditches dry and overgrown, except of W bailey ditch, which still holds water. Outer ditch on E used as track. Beyond scheduled area, bank runs along E edge of outer ditch and forms part of cultivated field. It survives to approximately 8m wide and 2m high from ditch bottom and approximately 1m high from surface of field. Entrance and masonry fragmentary recorded by OS still visible. Surface of field to E of monument is undulating. Mr Plumpton says earthwork here (presumably the enclosure at (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) described and mapped by OS) was levelled some years ago .