Hallaton Castle was situated to the west of the village of Hallaton, which lies some 20 km to the south-east of the city of Leicester (grid reference SP780967). It seems likely that the castle formed the administrative centre of an estate owned by Geoffrey Alselin, which is described in the Domesday Book, pinpointing the construction of the castle happening before 1086 but after 1066.

Hallaton Castle earthworks, 2006

This was an interesting motte and bailey castle with an additional rectangular enclosure now surviving as an earthwork, 118 feet (36 m) high, and 630 feet (190 m) in circumference, on which stood the keep, occupying, with the outworks, about 2 acres (8,100 m2) of ground.

The earthworks only are present today.

References edit

  • Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, The David & Charles Book of Castles, Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3

52°33′45″N 0°51′03″W / 52.56255°N 0.85078°W / 52.56255; -0.85078