Berkhamsted Castle

Coordinates: 51°45′49″N 000°33′32″W / 51.76361°N 0.55889°W / 51.76361; -0.55889
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Berkhamsted Castle
Motte and bailey
Site information
OwnerDuchy of Cornwall
OperatorEnglish Heritage
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionRuined
WebsiteEnglish Heritage
Berkhamsted Castle Trust
Site history
Built1066 (1066)
Built by
Scheduled Ancient Monument

Berkhamsted Castle is a

chancellors. The castle was substantially expanded in the mid-12th century, probably by Thomas Becket
.

The castle was besieged in 1216 during the

Edward, the Black Prince, who expanded the hunting grounds. The castle was also used to hold royal prisoners, including King John II of France
and rival claimants to the English throne.

In the late 15th century, the castle became increasingly unfashionable and fell into decline. By the mid-16th century, it was in ruins and unsuitable for royal use. Stone was taken from the castle to build houses and other buildings in the town. The castle was almost destroyed during the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway in the 1830s. As a result, it became the first building in Britain to receive statutory protection from Parliament. In 1930, the castle passed from the Duchy of Cornwall to the government's control. It is maintained as a tourist attraction by English Heritage.

History

1066–1217

Berkhamsted Castle was built during the

Robert of Mortain, who owned it by the time of the writing of the Domesday Book.[3][4]

Plan of the castle: A – earthworks, possibly for French siege engines; B – motte and keep; C – inner bailey; D – Richard, Earl of Cornwall's tower; E – 19th century keeper's house; F – outer bailey; G – south gate

The castle was located slightly away from the main road, to give additional space for the earthworks involved, and was positioned as to benefit from natural

motte and bailey design, with a 40 foot (12 m) high motte, and a bailey around 500 foot (150 m) by 300 foot (91 m), enclosing 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) acres. A double bank and ditch ran around the whole castle, with both sets of ditches filled with water.[5] In total, the wider earthworks occupy around 11 acres (4.5 ha).[6] A fossarius – a specialised ditch digger – was recorded as being employed maintained at the castle in 1086.[7] Radiocarbon dating of organic remains from within the castle's motte indicates a post 1066 construction date.[8][9]

A large

deer park, owned by the Crown, was established around the castle to provide hunting grounds.[10] The castle was carefully positioned next to the park, which was overlooked by the motte.[11] A vineyard was also maintained alongside the castle.[12] The old Anglo-Saxon manorial centre was moved to the site, and as a result the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Berkhamsted may have shifted from the area now called Northchurch along Akeman Street to be closer to the castle; several mills, essential for grinding flour, were present there in 1086.[13]

Robert's son,

chancellor, Ranulf.[15] In 1123, however, when Ranulf was travelling to the castle with Henry, the chancellor rode over the nearby hill, became overly exhilarated at the view ahead of him and fell off his horse, dying from his injuries.[16]

The castle was subsequently given by Henry II to Thomas Becket when he became chancellor in 1155.[17] Becket extended the castle to accommodate his large household, but fell from favour in 1164 and the castle was confiscated by the king.[18] Henry II liked Berkhamsted and subsequently used it himself extensively.[19] By the mid-12th century, the castle had been rebuilt in stone, probably by Becket, with a shell keep and an outer stone wall; the bailey was divided in two by a wall to form an inner and an outer bailey.[20] A gatehouse led down into the town, meeting with Castle Street.[21] Henry II also officially recognised the surrounding settlement of Berkhamsted as a town in 1156.[1]

Under

King John the castle was part of the lands forming the jointure of his second wife Isabella.[19] John entrusted the castle to Geoffrey Fitz Peter in 1206, who rebuilt much of the town.[22] Geoffrey died in 1213 and the castle passed to his son, John Fitzgeoffrey.[19]

Political tensions in England began to rise, however, and a potential conflict between King John and an alliance of rebel barons opposed to his rule began to look likely. In early 1215, King John installed a trusted German mercenary called Ranulph in charge of Berkhamsted Castle and reviewed the defensive arrangements there that April.[23] Civil war broke out later that same year. Initially, the rebels were hampered by a lack of equipment – in particular, siege engines – but in May 1216 the future Louis VIII crossed over the English Channel joining the rebel cause and being proclaimed king in London, bringing with him heavy siege equipment.[24]

King John died in October, and in December Louis besieged Berkhamsted Castle.[25] The prince deployed his siege engines, probably trebuchets, and attacked the castle repeatedly for twenty days, throwing what chroniclers termed innumerable "damnable stones" at the defenders.[26] During the 13th century, a set of earthworks were built around the outside of the walls, which may have been the firing platforms for these trebuchets.[27][nb 1] Having put up a strong defence, the garrison was allowed to surrender and to leave with their weapons and armour.[29] When the forces loyal to the young Henry III defeated the rebels the following year, the castle was returned to royal hands.[19]

1218–1461

Castle motte

In subsequent years, Berkhamsted then became closely associated with the

wool trade.[36] Richard died at the castle in 1272, and it passed to his son Edmund.[19]

The castle passed on through Edward I, who found the castle in an apparently poor condition, and his second wife, Margaret, to Edward II.[37] Edward II gave it to his royal favourite, Piers Gaveston, whom he made Earl of Cornwall.[19] Gaveston was married there in 1307, with Edward in attendance.[38] Edward II and Gaveston fell from power in 1327 and John, Edward's second son, took possession as the new Earl of Cornwall.[6]

When John died,

Edward, the Black Prince, was created Duke of Cornwall and also made extensive use of the castle, which formed part of the new duchy.[22] The Black Prince took advantage of the aftermath of the Black Death to extend the castle's park by 65 acres (26 ha), including some woodland pasture stretching over the Chilterns, eventually producing a park covering 991 acres (401 ha).[39] The castle was used to hold John II of France after he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Poitiers.[19] When the Black Prince fell ill following his campaigning in France, he retired to Berkhamsted and died there in 1376.[40]

Canterbury Tales, oversaw renovation work on the castle in his role as a clerk.[43] Both Henry V and Henry VI owned the castle, the latter making use of it until his overthrow in 1461.[44]

1462–1900

View from the motte, looking into the inner bailey

Berkhamsted was confiscated by Edward IV when he came to power during Wars of the Roses.[44] In the late 15th century, the castle was occupied by his mother, Cecily Neville, the Duchess of York.[42] By now the castle had become increasingly unfashionable, however, and was abandoned after her death in 1495.[21] By the time that antiquarian John Leland visited in the mid-16th century, it was in "much ruine" and was unsuitable for royal use.[45]

In 1580, the estate, including the ruins and the park, was leased by

Elizabeth I to Sir Edward Carey, for the nominal rent of one red rose each year.[46] Stone from the castle was used to build Berkhamsted Place, a local school and other buildings in the late 16th century.[47][48] The castle's park, which had reached 1,252 acres (507 ha) in size by 1627, was broken up in the next two decades, shrinking to only 376 acres (152 ha).[49] The English Civil War of the 1640s largely passed Berkhamsted by, with the castle apparently playing no part in the conflict.[50]

In 1761 the wider estate and the castle were separated, the former being leased to the Duke of Bridgewater, while the latter remained in the direct control of the Duchy of Cornwall.[51] In 1863, the surrounding estates and park were sold off altogether by the duchy to Earl Brownlow; Brownlow also agreed to rent the castle from the duchy for a nominal rent.[52]

In the 1830s, plans were drawn up to build the new London and Birmingham Railway.[53] From an engineering perspective, the ideal route for the railway ran through the site of the castle, but concerns over the need to protect ancient monuments and buildings had been growing for several years, and the local Bridgwater estate were also keen to protect the local view from their buildings.[54] The castle was ultimately specifically protected in the 1833 act that sanctioned the railway, forcing the track to take a route across the valley floor. Berkhamsted was the first building in Britain to receive statutory protection from development in this way.[53][55] Nonetheless, the route still required the track to pass through the outer fortifications of the castle, a major engineering operation which was carried out in 1834, destroying the castle gatehouse in the process.[56]

Between around 1841 and 1897 a

Charlotte Catherine Anne, Countess of Bridgewater to feed destitute agricultural workers during the winter months.[57] Contemporary accounts in the Bucks Herald describe the distribution of soup and bread to hundreds of poor people from a house in the castle grounds, thought to be the 19th-century keeper's house which stands in the outer ward.[58][59]

20th – 21st centuries

Ruins of the external walls, keeper's house, castle motte in background

In 1924, a strip of land around the periphery of the castle ruins was purchased from Lord Brownlow's estate by William Cooper and Nephews, a local agricultural chemical factory, for use as grazing land for sheep.[60]

Following the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913, the British Government was empowered to issue preservation orders to protect ancient monuments. The Office of Works acquired control of Berkhamsted Castle from the Duchy of Cornwall on 24th December 1929. Renovation works were carried out on the castle ruins 1930-31, using a workforce made up of men who had become unemployed during the Great Depression. Overgrown trees were felled and the moats cleared. During the clearance work, the stave of a 13th-century crossbow was dug up in the eastern part of the inner moat. The crossbow is thought to be a remnant of the siege of 1216. In 1976, it was put on display in the Royal Armouries collection at the Tower of London until the display closed in 1995, and the crossbow is now held in the British Museum collection in London.[61][62] The inner ditch was subsequently drained of water in the 1950s.[32]

On 13 June 1935,

William Goscombe John.[64]

In the summer of 1966, to mark the 900th anniversary of the

Today, Berkhamsted Castle is protected by law as an

Historian Isobel Thompson considers Berkhamsted Castle to be "one of the best surviving motte and bailey castles" in England.[21] Sam Willis has recalled visiting the castle as a child and remembers especially running up and down the motte.[70]

The Berkhamsted Castle site entirely staffed by local volunteers. It is open daily and visitors can enter free of charge.[71]

Castle Occupants

In the 11th century, Robert of Mortain was associated with Berkhamsted Castle. Then in 1086, Randulph, Lord Chancellor, received permission from the Crown to construct another wooden fort on the castle site. In 1155, Thomas à Becket took over the castle as Lord Chancellor and converted the wooden fort into a stone fortress. Between 1191 and King Richard I’s death, Queen Berengaria of Navarre occupied the castle. Queen Isabella of Angoulême also occupied the castle until the siege in 1204. King Henry III granted the castle to Richard Earl of Cornwall in 1227, who then used it as his primary residence and administrative centre. Queen Margaret of France occupied the Berkhamsted Castle in 1291. Edward, the Black Prince, took over the castle in 1337 and later imprisoned King John II there in 1356. In 1399, the castle was passed down from Henry V to his wife Margaret of Anjou. Finally, between 1469 and her death in 1495, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, occupied the castle. [72]

Castle Construction

The Berkhamsted motte mound is around 14 m high (45.9 feet) and 55 metres (180.4 feet) in diameter and comprises a motte in the northeast corner of an oblong bailey. The motte stands on a shell keep of about 18 metres wide (59 feet), and the bailey occupies around 1.3 hectares (13,000 sq m).

The original castle was rebuilt in stone and extended over many years, yet the position remains consistent with the initial build. The castle boasted two complete moats in its prime, and visitors approached the castle from today’s Castle Street. They entered through a low wooden bridge across the River Bulbourne and a second drawbridge led to the central Gateway. [72]

Visiting the Castle

Berkhamsted Castle does not provide parking on site, but visitors can park in public parking areas located near the railway station or the town centre at a standard fee. If using on-street parking on White Hill or nearby streets, visitors must keep in mind the residents. The castle site can be accessed for free during reasonable daylight hours of the day. During summer months, the castle ruins are open daily from 10 am-6 pm, while in winter months, the ruins are open from 10 am-4 pm. The castle ruins are closed on Christmas day and New Year's day. The castle can be located at White Hill, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1LJ. The castle bailey and its surroundings offer a great location to picnic or explore the long history of the castle ruins. Visitors can take a scenic walk around the remains of the once-mighty rampart and climb the stairs of the bailey to enjoy the view from the medieval stone walls.[73]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Academic opinions vary on the interpretation of the 13th century earthworks around the castle. Historian Nigel Pounds is certain on the basis of their unusual shape that they were the French firing platforms; Adrian Pettifer is uncertain; John Goodall suggests that they were instead defensive works built later by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, arguing that it would have been unlikely that the earthworks would have been left intact outside the castle after the war.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 6, retrieved 21 December 2012
  2. ^ Pounds 1994, pp. 6–7; Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 6, retrieved 21 December 2012
  3. ^ Armitage 1912, p. 105; Brown 1989, p. 52; Pettifer 1995, p. 104
  4. ^ "Construction". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  5. ^ Armitage 1912, p. 105; Brown 1989, p. 52; Pettifer 1995, p. 105; Mackenzie 1896, p. 130
  6. ^ a b c Mackenzie 1896, p. 130
  7. ^ Williamson 2010, p. 218
  8. ^ Jim Leary, Elaine Jamieson and Phil Stastney (2018). "Normal for Normans? Exploring the large round mounds of England". Current Archaeology (337) (published April 2018). Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Radiocarbon dates from 10 castle mounds – results of year 1". The Round Mounds Project. University of Reading. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  10. ^ Rowe 2007, p. 132; Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 6, retrieved 21 December 2012
  11. ^ Liddiard 2005, pp. 111–112
  12. ^ Williamson 2010, p. 219
  13. ^ Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, pp. 6, 12, retrieved 21 December 2012
  14. ^ Pettifer 1995, p. 104
  15. ^ Mackenzie 1896, pp. 127–128
  16. ^ Liddiard 2005, p. 111; Mackenzie 1896, p. 128
  17. ^ Pettifer 1995, p. 10
  18. ^ "History and research, Berkhamsted Castle", English Heritage, retrieved 21 December 2012
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h Mackenzie 1896, p. 128
  20. ^ Brown 1989, p. 52; Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 10, retrieved 21 December 2012;"History and research, Berkhamsted Castle", English Heritage, retrieved 21 December 2012
  21. ^ a b c Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 10, retrieved 21 December 2012
  22. ^ a b Thompson, Isobel (2005). "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF). English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council. p. 10. Retrieved 21 December 2012.; Mackenzie 1896, p. 128
  23. ^ Wolstenholme 1883, p. 14
  24. ^ Barlow 1999, p. 356
  25. ^ "Berkhamsted Castle Siege". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  26. ^ Goodall 2011, p. 170; Pounds 1994, p. 109; Purton 2009, p. 325
  27. ^ Pounds 1994, p. 109
  28. ^ Pounds 1994, p. 111; Goodall 2011, p. 44; Pettifer 1995, p. 105
  29. ^ Liddiard 2005, p. 88; Pounds 1994, pp. 6–7
  30. ^ Brown 1989, p. 52
  31. ^ "Dukes of Cornwall". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  32. ^ a b Pettifer 1995, p. 105
  33. ^ Goodall 2011, p. 189
  34. ^ Goodall 2011, p. 189; Wolstenholme 1883, p. 17
  35. ^ Sherwood 2008, p. 230
  36. ^ Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 9, retrieved 21 December 2012
  37. ^ Mackenzie 1896, p. 128; Wolstenholme 1883, p. 18
  38. ^ Wolstenholme 1883, p. 19
  39. ^ Rowe 2007, pp. 131, 134, 142, 144
  40. ^ Mackenzie 1896, pp. 128–129.
  41. ^ Goodall 2011, p. 321; Mackenzie 1896, p. 129
  42. ^ a b Mackenzie 1896, p. 129
  43. ^ Pratt 2000, p. 41
  44. ^ a b Wolstenholme 1883, pp. 22–23
  45. ^ Mackenzie 1896, pp. 129–130
  46. ^ Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, p. 12, retrieved 21 December 2012; Mackenzie 1896, p. 130
  47. ^ "Berkhamsted Place". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  48. ^ Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, pp. 10, 13, retrieved 21 December 2012
  49. ^ Wolstenholme 1883, pp. 46–47
  50. ^ Wolstenholme 1883, pp. 45–46
  51. ^ Sherwood 2008, p. 245
  52. ^ Sherwood 2008, p. 245; Wolstenholme 1883, p. 26
  53. ^ a b Richards 1995, p. 123
  54. ^ Richards 1995, p. 123; Prince 2008, p. 179
  55. ^ "The London & Birmingham Railway". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  56. ^ Thompson, Isobel (2005), "Extensive Urban Survey – Hertfordshire" (PDF), English Heritage and Hertfordshire County Council, pp. 10, 23, retrieved 21 December 2012
  57. ^ "Charlotte Catherine Anne, Countess of Bridgewater". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  58. ^ Carstairs, Phil (March 2015). "Rediscovering Berkhamsted's Lost Soup Kitchen" (PDF). The Chronicle. Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society: 9–22. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  59. ^ "Countess of Bridgewater's soup kitchen". Bucks Herald. 6 February 1875. p. 5.
  60. ^ "Richard Mildmay Foot". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  61. ^ "Guardianship of the Office of Works". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  62. ^ Brown 1989, p. 53
  63. ^ "Visit of Edward, Prince of Wales". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  64. ^ "London Statues". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  65. ^ "900th Anniversary Pageant". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  66. ^ "Historic castle event is strangled by red tape". www.hemeltoday.co.uk. Hemel Hempstead Gazette. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  67. ^ Historic England. "Berkhamsted motte and bailey castle (1010756)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  68. ^ "The Castle Site". www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk. Berkhamsted Castle Trust. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  69. ^ "Norman castle site to 'be complete again' after donation". BBC News. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  70. ^ Sanders, Kevin (2 December 2014). "Britain's Fortified History: the Story of Castles with Sam Willis". english-heritage.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  71. ^ "Hours & Facilities". Berkhamsted Castle. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  72. ^ a b "Berkhamsted Castle | Opening Hours, Visitor Info | Castles History". Castles, Forts, Chateaus. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  73. ^ "Berkhamsted Castle". English Heritage. Retrieved 6 May 2023.

Bibliography

Further reading

External links