A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



this, again, towers the artificial mount of the castle keep (A), the summit 

 of which rises another 15 ft.; or a total of about 105 ft. above the 

 level of the sea. It forms a conspicuous object when seen from Preston 

 and the north and east. The main castle hill (AB) is divided from the 

 slightly lower neck of the promontory on which stands the church, by a 

 deeply excavated fosse which cuts across the headland. From its top the 

 mount commands its entire surroundings, having a most comprehensive 

 view both up and down and across the Ribble, and far over the country 

 beyond. 



An ancient sunk road leads down the gorge on the west to the 

 water's edge, where a ford crossed to the opposite side. The castle hill 

 at Penwortham guarded the estuary of the Ribble very effectually, and 

 it also completely controlled the important road across the river to the 

 north. 



To describe what remains of the earthworks more in detail. The 

 mount (A) is conical in form ; it is slightly oval in plan, and has a diameter 

 of 120 ft. at its longest base ; its summit is now worn so round that its area 

 can only be given approximately as 25 ft. across ; its height above the plateau 

 to the north (upon which it stands) is about i 5 ft. No fosse now divides it 

 from this, but one has very probably been filled up. The plateau (B) 

 evidently formed the bailey of the castle; it is now 25 ft. or more above 

 the level of the lower plateau which surrounds it to the north and north- 

 west, and about 75 ft. above the ancient river bed to the east. Its area is now 

 very small ; but it was once probably larger, extending round the east side of 

 the mount in the frequently-found crescentic form ; the cliff on this side, 

 which is above the old river channel, has the appearance of having suffered 

 very much by erosion. The loss of area here is also shown by the cut 

 appearance of the eastern end of the fosse which divides the site from the 

 slightly lower land where the church stands to the south. This fosse is 

 the only one now visible around the fortalice. It is 35 ft. wide from 

 edge to edge, and 1 5 ft. deep at either end, though shallower in the centre. 

 According to a description written ninety years ago, however, 'a fosse 39 

 yards square, measured in the centre of the moat,' having its 'sides facing the 

 four cardinal points,' then surrounded the mount. This account can hardly 

 have been strictly accurate in detail, as the mount is oval in outline. It is 

 abundantly evident that the site has been much altered in several ways ; first, 

 by the filling in of the fosses round both bailey and mount (except the por- 

 tion now seen upon the south side) ; secondly, by a general rounding off 

 of all the slopes of the ancient earthworks; and, finally, by the wearing 

 away of the east side of the hill by former river erosion. It has been sug- 

 gested that the lower plateau (C) may perhaps have formed a second 

 stockaded bailey ; but its value for defensive purposes can never have 

 been great, as much of its interior area is commanded by the higher 

 ground on which the church stands. There is no sign of masonry upon 

 any part of the earthworks, so the defences of the castle must always have 

 been of wood. 



It is interesting to record that some fairly careful excavation was under- 

 taken upon the castle site in the year 1856. Of this two accounts (one 

 illustrated by figures of the finds) have been preserved to us. These accounts 



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