Page:VCH Staffordshire 1.djvu/396

 A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE The castle and the church are in close proximity to one another. The earthwork in this case, cut as it was through the solid rock, was of important character though not very extensive. Altitude 469 ft. AUDLEY. HEIGHLEY CASTLE is situated about 4J miles westward of Newcastle under Lyme. It is on high ground at about the altitude of 345 ft. above sea level. The prospects from it are very extensive and embrace the view of the Church Stretton, Welsh and other hills. The site of the building was on a rocky hill which, however, was not formed by the raising of a mound but by the isolation of a peak by the hewing away of the surrounding rock and then forming out of the side of the hill a clear mound. At the same time there was constructed a fosse of great dimensions and stern aspect, being in places upwards of 30 ft. deep and of 50 ft. in width. It is said that the material from the excavation afforded stone for the masonry of the castle which was built by Henry de Audley in 1233. A stream of water passes near the foot of the castle. Heighley is now the property of the Lord Crewe. The plateau is of a pear shape, and the whole work contains an area of about 3i acres. CAVERSWALL CASTLE is situated in the parish of Caverswall and stands to the north-west of the parish church. There are fragments of the lower masonry still remaining of William de Caverswall's work in the time of SECTIONS. SCALE eo'r. ^ro^lfe^^^fe^^o CAVERSWALL CASTLE 352
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