The motte at Burfa is one of the many 11th - 12th century castle mounds in this area, which as a whole could be seen as a sort of security zone about 15 miles wide which lies mostly on the English side of the border, and necessary for the Normans to protect their recently aquired lands from the Welsh. There are four other castle mounds nearby at Barland, Womaston, and two at Evenjobb, which would suggest that this area was important during the time of their construction, and its position along the easy terrain of the Hindwell valley was probably a major route in military and economic terms. In the case of Burfa there is a record dating to 1211-12 which refers to it as Burchoure but no tennant is named. By 1304 it had become part of the Burlingjobb estate held by Ralph St Ouen. The castle could have been built any time from the 1080's up to 1200. Its plan appears to be of an early type and it probably began as a simple timber motte and bailey which was later fortified with stone. Its location is particularly beautiful as it is within the Burfa Bog Nature Reserve, a haven for wildlife and rare flowers. The 4m high mound has a 'D' shaped summit 17m long by 13m wide as a result of erosion or collapse on the E side.