Caludon Castle
Caludon Castle | ||
---|---|---|
Grid reference grid reference SP 37379 80159 | | |
Site information | ||
Owner | Coventry City Council | |
Controlled by | Coventry City Council | |
Open to the public | Yes | |
Condition | Ruined | |
Site history | ||
Materials | Grey sandstone | |
Battles/wars | English Civil War |
Caludon Castle is a
The site has been occupied since at least the 11th century
The estate was divided up and much of it sold in 1815, and remained in the hands of multiple private owners until most of the land was purchased by the Coventry Corporation after the First World War and used for housing developments.
Architecture
The remains of the Caludon estate are today located in Wyken, a suburban area to the east of Coventry city centre. However, until portions of it were sold off in the 19th century, the estate was much more expansive. The estate was historically a detached part of St. Michael's parish, but was transferred to Wyken in 1884, which in turn was absorbed into the City of Coventry in 1928. The original boundary of the estate ran from Sowe Bridge (now known as Clifford Bridge, 52°24′44″N 1°26′42″W / 52.412184°N 1.444941°W) over the River Sowe in the south-east to high ground near Stoke Heath in the north-west.[1]
The original castle was in an oval shape, surrounded by a defensive wall, including towers, and a moat. Entrance was via a gatehouse and bridge on the east side. Most living quarters were to the north and west sides of the enclosure, while kitchens and offices were to the south and east. Several farm buildings, associated with the castle, lay just outside the moat, along with a bowling green, gardens, and a three-acre field known as "the pool". When the property was converted to a mansion, circa 1580, many outbuildings were recorded as still standing, including a porter's lodge and brewing house.[2]
A survey conducted in 2008 found the foundations of a rectangular building, oriented north-north-west, thought to be the remains of a large hall, 33 x 13 metres (108 x 43 feet). To the north of the hall the survey found magnetic anomalies representing a complex of living buildings styled as a manor house. The same survey also found large magnetic anomalies in the eastern part of the site, which could be buried rubble from the demolition of a farmhouse, or the remains of in-filled cellars which are believed to have been built on the site. Evidence of a footpath around the interior of the site was also discovered. Given the evidence found, it is likely that the anomalies represent more than one phase of construction, though this could not be conclusively proven with the methods used.[3]
A moat, approximately 190 metres (620 feet) to the south of the castle, was constructed in medieval times, probably around the time of the rebuilding in 1305. A
History
The site was originally occupied by a house, which pre-dated the
The house was likely rebuilt as a castle in 1305, when
The property remained in the Mowbray family until the death of
Modern day
The castle is now a ruin, and all that remains above ground is a large grey sandstone wall, which has been the only remnant of any building on the site since at least the early 18th century. It includes two large tracery windows, decorated by red sandstone, which stand out against the grey. Red sandstone also appears at both ends of the walls, suggesting at least two more windows, and meaning that the wall would have been at least twice the length of the surviving fragment when built. Beneath the large windows are two smaller ones, suggestive of an undercroft, and a flue runs between the sets of windows. The wall fragment is thought to be 14th century, likely dating from the reconstruction in 1354.[1]
The castle is now situated in a small urban park called Caludon Castle Park, owned and managed by
See also
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Coventry
- Grade I listed buildings in Coventry
- List of castles in England
References
- ^ a b c d e Stephens, W. B., ed. (1969). "The City of Coventry: The outlying parts of Coventry: Wyken and Caludon". A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 8: The City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mackenzie, Sir James D. (1896). The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. Vol. I. MacMillan. p. 346.
- ^ Fisher, Ian (July 2008). "Archaeological geophysical survey at Caludon Castle, Coventry" (PDF). Northamptonshire Archaeology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Archaeological investigation at Caludon Castle, Farren Road, Coventry" (PDF). Warwickshire Museum Field Services. August 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Moat; S of Caludon Castle". Heritage Gateway. English Heritage. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ William Dugdale, Antiquities of Warwickshire (1656), p. 83
- ^ a b c Historic England. "Remains of Caludon Castle (1076645)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ISBN 9781843830207. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ "Caludon Castle Park". Coventry City Council. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
Further reading
- Demidowicz, George; Johnson, Stephen (2013). A History of Caludon Castle: the lords of the manor of Caludon. Coventry: Century Public Relations. ISBN 9780992785406.