Watch Hill Castle

Substantial dating evidence has not been recovered from the site, but the form of the castle as a timber motte-and-bailey suggests a date between the Norman Conquest and the 13th century. The lack of documentary evidence relating to the castle may be attributed to the short-term nature of timber construction; motte-and-baileys were quick to establish and were not necessarily used for long periods. A coin found on the site, dating to the reign of Henry II (1154 to 1189), may indicate that the castle was built during this period. The castle most likely belonged to Hamo de Mascy, who was involved in the rebellion against Henry II in 1173. It had fallen out of use by the 13th century.

The remains of Watch Hill Castle consist of two parts: an artificial mound (a motte) and an enclosure (a bailey). The motte is tall and is wide at the base and at the top. The bailey covered a triangular area of approximately and lay to the east of the motte. It was enclosed by an earthen rampart, which survives to a height of in some places and would have been topped by a palisade. The north side of the bailey was doubly protected by the terrain sloping away steeply, and the south side was protected by the river.