Coventry Castle
Encyclopedia
Coventry Castle was a motte and bailey castle
in the city of Coventry
, England .
It was built in the 11th century by Ranulf Meschines, Earl of Chester, probably out of wood initially. Its first known use was during The Anarchy
when Robert Marmion, a supporter of King Stephen, expelled the monks from the adjacent priory of Saint Mary and converted it into a fortress from which he waged a battle against the Earl. Marmion perished in the battle.
Coventry Castle was first mentioned in 1147, when those loyal to the king retreated to its defences during a siege by Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester. After the siege was lifted, King Stephen
destroyed the castle, however it was probably later repaired as it was described as a viable fortification in 1182.
Despite Coventry's position at one of the most important road intersections in England, a castle was built there relatively late on.
Today, the site is in the city centre and part of the castle still exists as the part of St Mary's Guildhall
called Caesar's Tower. The Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre was constructed over part of the castle.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in the city of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England .
It was built in the 11th century by Ranulf Meschines, Earl of Chester, probably out of wood initially. Its first known use was during The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
when Robert Marmion, a supporter of King Stephen, expelled the monks from the adjacent priory of Saint Mary and converted it into a fortress from which he waged a battle against the Earl. Marmion perished in the battle.
Coventry Castle was first mentioned in 1147, when those loyal to the king retreated to its defences during a siege by Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester. After the siege was lifted, King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
destroyed the castle, however it was probably later repaired as it was described as a viable fortification in 1182.
Despite Coventry's position at one of the most important road intersections in England, a castle was built there relatively late on.
Today, the site is in the city centre and part of the castle still exists as the part of St Mary's Guildhall
St Mary's Guildhall
St. Mary's Hall is a guildhall built in Coventry, Warwickshire, England and extended 1340–1460, The Building has a vaulted undercroft which is currently a restaurant....
called Caesar's Tower. The Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre was constructed over part of the castle.
See also
- Warwick CastleWarwick CastleWarwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century,...
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of castles in England
Further reading
- Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, The David & Charles Book of Castles, David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3