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 A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE MOUNDS AND MOUNDS WITH ONE OR MORE ATTACHED COURTS (CLASSES D AND E) ALTON CASTLE stood upon the summit of a precipitous face of bare cliff rising from the valley of the River Churnet, and is said to have been built by Theobald de Verdun in the reign of Edward II. Its situation on the one side of the valley here with 'The Towers' on the opposite with their wooded slopes and long stretch of prospects in every direction give to this spot a truly beautiful aspect. With a sheer precipice on the north-west and SCALE Or FECT IOO 200 3OO ALTON CASTLE south-west sides the only other security called for was to the north-east and south-east, and here a great fosse some 19 yds. in width and 9 yds. in depth cut clear out of the rock, together with the precipitous face of rock on the valley sides, isolates the precincts of the castle from the neighbouring land. The approach from the valley was by a slope on the western side, well commanded from the castle walls, and the entrance was from the fosse near to the south-west corner of the great retaining wall which supported the castle area. It is not easy to define the form of the castle in consequence of the many alterations which have taken place ; but it would appear to have strictly met military exigencies, having generally a long oval outline. 35o