Acton Burnell Castle
Acton Burnell Castle | |
---|---|
Shropshire, England | |
Shown within Shropshire. | |
Coordinates | 52°36′46″N 2°41′23″W / 52.61286°N 2.68966°W grid reference SJ534019 |
Type | Fortified manor house |
Site information | |
Owner | English Heritage |
Open to the public | Yes |
Condition | Ruined |
Acton Burnell Castle is a 13th-century fortified manor house, located near the village of Acton Burnell, Shropshire, England (grid reference SJ534019). It is believed that the first Parliament of England at which the Commons were fully represented was held here in 1283. Today all that remains is the outer shell of the manor house and the gable ends of the barn. It is a Grade I listed building on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.[1]
Initial building
The manor house was built in 1284 by
Robert Burnell was granted a royal licence to crenellate and fortify the manor on 28 January 1284, a benefit only extended to trusted people.[citation needed] The building was rectangular with a tower at each corner. It was three storeys high consisting of a hall, solar, bedrooms, offices, chapel and kitchen.[2] Robert Burnell also built the nearby Church of St Mary and the surrounding village.[2]
Before this, in the autumn of 1283, Edward I had held a Parliament at Acton Burnell, presumably in the adjacent great barn,[2] the only building large enough. It is significant in that it was the first time in English history that the law-making process included the Commons. The law passed became known as the Statute of Acton Burnell, a law giving protection to creditors, indicating the increasing significance of traders during those times.[3]
Subsequent owners
When Robert Burnell died in 1292, the estate was passed down through the family line, eventually becoming owned by the Lovels of Titchmarsh, via a marriage. Following the
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Shropshire
- Listed buildings in Acton Burnell
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of castles in England
Notes
- ^ "Images of England: Acton Burnell Castle". English Heritage. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Acton Burnell Castle". Virtual Shropshire. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
- ^ "Statute of Acton Burnell". Farlex. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.