Hertford Castle

Coordinates: 51°47′44″N 0°04′48″W / 51.7955°N 0.0800°W / 51.7955; -0.0800
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hertford Castle
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Hertford Castle was built in Norman times beside the

Grade I listed building.[1] Parts of the bailey walls on the east side of the castle also still stand, and are a Grade II* listed building.[2]

History

Medieval history

Hertford Castle was built on a site first fortified by

motte and bailey were on the site surrounded by a moat.[3] William the Conqueror granted the castle to Peter de Valognes, the High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire.[4]

King John, he was eventually appointed governor of the castle.[4]

Following the death of Angelo Salvo in 1216, a French invasion

During the reign of Edward II the castle saw its first political prisoners, some of the Knights Templar, in 1309.[5] Edward's wife Isabella of France and their son, Edward III both spent much time in the castle, and Isabella died in the castle in 1358.[6]

During the

John of Gaunt who spent much time there, using it as his chief country home when not abroad on campaigns.[3] The defences were repaired and strengthened again at this time. When John of Gaunt died in 1399, Richard II seized all the Lancastrian estates, including Hertford Castle, where he installed his new wife, the eight-year-old Princess Isabella of Valois.[7]

The castle continued to remain in royal hands and in 1418 Henry V granted it to his new wife, Princess Katherine of France, and they spent much time there together.[4] Henry's son Henry VI spent much of his infancy at the castle. In 1445 he married Margaret of Anjou and granted her the castle.[4] However as a result of the Wars of the Roses the crown went to Edward IV who granted the castle to his wife, Elizabeth Woodville.[4] When Richard III became king, the castle was granted to one of his greatest supporters, the Duke of Buckingham.[7]

Tudor times

Elizabeth I was a frequent visitor to Hertford.[7]

Modern history

Hertford Castle pictured in 1851

From the reign of

James I the castle ceased to be a royal residence and it fell into decay. After Charles I came to the throne, the castle was granted to William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury.[7] Much of the castle was now in ruins, having not been used since Tudor times. The castle was leased to Sir William Harrington of Hertingfordbury Park, who carried out work to restore the buildings.[7] He then assigned his lease to Sir William Cowper, Collector of Customs at the Port of London.[7] From this time the castle remained in the ownership of the Cecil family, who leased it out to a succession of occupiers, many of them successors to William Cowper. Around 1790 the south wing was added to the gatehouse. The windows of the existing gatehouse were all remodelled, and the parapet added with its brick battlements. Around 1800 a new gateway and lodge were built by the Marquess of Downshire.[1]

Between 1805 and 1809, the castle became the home of the East India Company College.[7] In 1822, a general dispensary was established at the castle by the Rev. Thomas Lloyd, who was a prime mover in charitable work in the town.[7]

In 1911, the Hertford Corporation leased the gatehouse of the castle (which was all that then remained) from the Marquess of Salisbury to house its administration.[7] The grounds became a public garden. In the 1930s, the north wing was added to the gatehouse and, in the late 20th century, Lord Salisbury gave what was left of the castle to the town.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Hertford Castle Gatehouse (1269027)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Bailey walls, north east range to Hertford Castle (1268984)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Hertford Castle". Gatehouse Gazateer. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Page, William (1912). The borough of Hertford: Castle, honour, manors, church and charities, A History of the County of Hertford Victoria County History series). Vol. 3. pp. 501–511. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  5. ^ "The Lost Treasure of Dinsley". MJ Wayland. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  6. ^ "McCarthy and Stone building two new retirement living complexes in Hertford". Hertfordshire Mercury. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Hertford Castle". Discover Hertford. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  8. .

Further reading

External links