Groby Castle
Encyclopedia
Groby Castle was situated in the large village of Groby
to the north-west of the city of Leicester
.
Grantmesnil held in Leicestershire
according to the Domesday Book
. The Victoria County History
for Leicestershire suggests that Grantmesnil founded Groby Castle, as does the National Monuments Record, however military historian R. Allen Brown suggests a foundation date in the third quarter of the 12th century by the Earl of Leicester
. This figure was accepted by Professor Leonard Cantor and military historian D. J. Cathcart King. Excavations in the 1960s demonstrated that the motte, an artificial mound, was built around a stone tower.
Along with Leicester
, and Brackley, Groby was one of three castles belonging to the earl that were destroyed on the orders of Henry II
after the Revolt of 1173–1174 led by his son, Prince Henry
. In the 13th century a stone manor house
was founded on the site. Antiquarian William Burton
noted in the early 17th century that Groby Castle "was utterly ruinated and gone and only the mounts, rampires and trenches were to be seen".
A fragment of one wall remains, together with earthworks consisting of a large mound of earth at the rear of the present manor house known as Groby Old Hall
. Part of the site is occupied by the church. In 1962 and 1963 excavations were carried out at Groby Castle in preparation for the construction of the A50 road
nearby. The road, which runs past the north-east of the motte, destroyed some of the castle's outworks. In April 2010, Time Team
undertook excavations at the castle. Groby Castle is a Scheduled Monument, which means it is a "nationally important" historic building and archaeological site
which has been given protection against unauthorised change.
Groby
Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
to the north-west of the city of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
.
History
After the Norman Conquest, the area came into the possession of Hugh de Grantmesnil. Groby was one of 67 manorsManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
Grantmesnil held in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
according to the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. The Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
for Leicestershire suggests that Grantmesnil founded Groby Castle, as does the National Monuments Record, however military historian R. Allen Brown suggests a foundation date in the third quarter of the 12th century by the Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
. This figure was accepted by Professor Leonard Cantor and military historian D. J. Cathcart King. Excavations in the 1960s demonstrated that the motte, an artificial mound, was built around a stone tower.
Along with Leicester
Leicester Castle
Leicester Castle is located in the city of the same name in the English county of Leicestershire. The complex is situated in the west of the city centre, between Saint Nicholas Circle to the north and De Montfort University to the south....
, and Brackley, Groby was one of three castles belonging to the earl that were destroyed on the orders of Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
after the Revolt of 1173–1174 led by his son, Prince Henry
Henry the Young King
Henry, known as the Young King was the second of five sons of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine but the first to survive infancy. He was officially King of England; Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou and Maine.-Early life:Little is known of the young prince Henry before the events...
. In the 13th century a stone manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was founded on the site. Antiquarian William Burton
William Burton (antiquary, died 1645)
William Burton was an English antiquarian, best known as the author of Description of Leicestershire.-Life:...
noted in the early 17th century that Groby Castle "was utterly ruinated and gone and only the mounts, rampires and trenches were to be seen".
A fragment of one wall remains, together with earthworks consisting of a large mound of earth at the rear of the present manor house known as Groby Old Hall
Groby Old Hall
thumb|Groby Old HallGroby Old Hall is partly a 15th century brick built manor house and grade II* listed building located very near the site of Groby Castle in the village of Groby in Leicestershire....
. Part of the site is occupied by the church. In 1962 and 1963 excavations were carried out at Groby Castle in preparation for the construction of the A50 road
A50 road
The A50 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Warrington to Leicester; however, it was once a much longer route.-Current route:...
nearby. The road, which runs past the north-east of the motte, destroyed some of the castle's outworks. In April 2010, Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
undertook excavations at the castle. Groby Castle is a Scheduled Monument, which means it is a "nationally important" historic building and archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
which has been given protection against unauthorised change.