Castles in the Lune Valley
Chapel Hill, Arkholme
Arkholme motte stands on Chapel Hill, which slopes steeply down to the river at the southeast end of the village immediately adjacent to the church ( see map ). The motte measures some 30m in diameter at its base and 14m wide at the top. Probable remains of the bailey, occupied by the church and graveyard sit to the northwest, but building and burials have so disturbed the ground as to make it uncertain. Evidence from excavation on the motte in 1904 and 1974 suggested that the motte consisted of two distinct layers, and that it had been raised some 2.75m at some date after its initial erection and occupation. It is notable of course that mottes were constructed in layers and it is still possible that the cobbled layer reported in 1904 was an artefact of this layered construction approach. It is certainly possible that the motte was raised in height, this is suggested to have occurred at Penwortham motte near Preston and the study at Hen Domen has shown evidence for several phases of work. There is no evidence of a pre-Conquest church and it seems probable that the church was built in the bailey for the convenience of the lord.
