Castles in the Lune Valley
Castle Stede
Castle Stede is more isolated, standing as it does outside the village of Hornby and directly above the medieval Loyne Bridge crossing the river Lune and is the best preserved example of a motte and bailey in Lancashire ( see map ). The castle utilises the northwest end of a natural ridge projecting almost to the River Lune with the motte, now covered in trees, rising some 15m above the riverside meadows. A wide and deep ditch surrounds it except on the north side and a large oval bailey is to the west. The bailey is defended by a rampart and ditch on its southern side and on the north and northwest by the steep slope down to the river. A Dr Lingard apparently undertook some excavations here in the mid 19th century, remains of which may still be seen on the west side and on top of the motte but no record of their results has been preserved. A Second World War pillbox has been constructed on the southern edge of the bailey defences, emphasising the military importance of the site.
