There is a place now invironyd with trees cawlyd the Castle Hille, wher the Lovetoftes had sumtime a castel. The stones of the castel were fette, as sum say, to make the fair lodge in Wyrkesoppe Parke not yet finisshed… But I am of the opinion that that chanons had the ruines of the castel stones to make the closure of their large waulles. (1)
There is no evidence that a Med castle ever stood there, but the earthwork, such as remains, is the work of an earlier age. The remains consist of a ditch which cuts off the promontory, upon which is a flat mound of almost circular plan. (2)
No further evidence, no finds. Adulterine ? Not completed ? (3)
A very fine and large mound, flat top. (5)
Castle motte and small mound to the W situated on a natural outerscarp of red sandstone. Motte has a rectangular plan at first appearance, but measures 46m E/W by 46m N/S across a level top and is at least 4m high on the S side, surrounded by a ditch 10m wide making motte c 12m high on the W side. C19 encroachment has reduced the impressive earthworks. An eroded N edge shows sandstone 8m thick with a horizontal stratigraphy of made hill 2-2.5m thick. Car park encroaches on S side of motte ditch. Otherwise surviving earthwork is well cared for by council. A bailey may have existed bounded by West Gate and arching round to E of Castle Hill between Castle Hill and Bridge Street. (6)
Very large grass mound, approx 50m diameter with steep sides, almost cliff like S and E sides where modern development has nibbled away. Flat topped mound and traces of outworks at W side but much of the original monument has probably been covered or destroyed by modern development. (7)

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

9 BW print, M13A-M21A, SMR

<1> Smith LT (ed), 1964, The Itinerary of John Leland 1535-1543, p 17 (Published document). SNT220.

<2> VCH, 1906, Notts, p 293 (Published document). SNT1383.

<3> Colquhoun FD, 1974, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT582.

<4> Thoroton Society, 1955, TTS, pp 98-9 (Published document). SNT369.

<5> MOW, 819 (Published document). SNT929.

<6> Hart CR, 1984, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT754.

<7> Samuels JR, 1986, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT1231.