Nantwich Castle
Encyclopedia
Nantwich Castle was a Norman
castle
in Nantwich
, Cheshire
, England, built before 1180 to guard a ford across the River Weaver
. The castle is first documented in 1288. It was last recorded in 1462, and was in ruins by 1485. No trace now remains above ground; excavations in 1978 near the Crown Inn
uncovered terracing and two ditches, one or both of which possibly formed the castle's bailey
.
The castle was in existence before 1180. There is little evidence either for who founded it or for its precise date of foundation. Some sources assume it was probably built by William Malbank, the first baron of Nantwich. However, local historian Eric Garton cites one document in which it is referred to as "the Castle of Piers Malbanke", whose existence is not otherwise recorded; he might have been one of the brothers of William Malbank, or of his heirs, Hugh and William
. Archaeological evidence suggests that the castle stood on slightly elevated ground between the River Weaver
and the modern High Street and Mill Street, probably near the Crown Inn
. This is one of the highest points in Nantwich, and would have commanded a strong position near the ford of the Weaver, which was located to the south of the existing bridge
.
Although a baronial castle, Nantwich was not one of the major castles of Cheshire. The only description, which dates from an 1818 history of the town by John Weld Platt, claims it was "square, surmounted at each angle with turrets. The outer walls of the castle were defended by a moat of considerable breadth, passable only by a draw-bridge." However, the later historian James Hall considers Platt's description to be "purely fictitious, and therefore of no historical importance".
After the death of the third baron in around 1160–70 without male issue, the lands and privileges of the barony were divided between his three daughters. An inquisition dated 15 May 1288 states that the castle passed to his eldest daughter, Philippa; this is the earliest documentary evidence of its existence. Philippa Malbank married Thomas, Lord Basset, and their daughter and co-heir, also Philippa, married Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick
. The castle passed back to the Earl of Chester
in the 13th century, when Philippa, Countess of Warwick, died without issue.
On 22 June 1278, the castle was granted by Edward I
to Randle de Merton, and then passed to Sir Randle Praers on 25 August of the same year. His grandson Thomas Praers alienated most of his lands, including the castle, to his neighbour John Gryffyn of Bartherton during his lifetime for the nominal rent of one rose annually. This act appears to have been contested as, on 16 May 1344, Edward, the Black Prince
, Earl of Chester, wrote:
On Thomas Praers' death, the castle passed by the marriage of his daughter and heir, Elizabeth, to Sir Robert Fouleshurst, and subsequently remained in the Fouleshurst family.
The castle was last recorded in 1462, and had fallen into ruins by 1485. Stone from the castle is thought to have been reused in St Mary's Church
, according to some sources for building the Kingsley Chapel (south transept
); however, the chapel probably dates from around 1405. In 1550, the area was called Lamburcote or Lambercote, and was grazing land. By the early 19th century, when George Ormerod
wrote his History, no trace of the castle remained above ground. Much of the area was levelled for use as a car park in the 1950s.
by Robina McNeil Sale and others found evidence of terracing, perhaps representing a platform or mound. These excavations also uncovered two aligned ditches, a steep-sided earlier one, possibly pre-medieval in date, and a larger medieval one. The later of these might have formed the outer bailey
of the castle, although it is smaller than those of most castles, possibly because the nearby river formed a natural barrier. Alternatively, it might have been used as a moat
. This ditch was allowed to silt up in the 13th century, which might indicate when the castle ceased to have a defensive function. The earlier ditch might be an earlier part of the castle's defences, which was replaced by the later ditch. Alternatively, it might form part of an earlier structure, perhaps the ditch mentioned in the Domesday survey
as surrounding one side of the town's salt houses.
Earlier excavations of 1974 and 1976 behind 28 High Street (then the National Westminster Bank) by David Hill of Manchester University also uncovered a large ditch, which McNeil Sale considers is likely to be a continuation of one of the ditches from the 1978 excavations. Evidence for a drawbridge
was uncovered during sewerage works in 1979.
No evidence for stone buildings has yet been discovered. This might be because the stone was entirely reused, or because the buildings were located in a position which has not been excavated, perhaps under the modern High Street. It is possible that the castle was never more than a small timber structure.
The castle has influenced the town's street plan. The modern High Street is believed to trace the castle's outer wall; from Hospital Street (the town's earliest street), it curves gently round to meet the River Weaver, with a sharper bend which is currently occupied by Regent House
. All the major streets on the east of the river radiate outwards from the High Street. The name "Castle Street" is believed to derive from the castle, although the name was first recorded in 1489 when the castle was already in ruins.
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
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 Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England, built before 1180 to guard a ford across the River Weaver
River Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included eleven locks, was completed in 1732...
. The castle is first documented in 1288. It was last recorded in 1462, and was in ruins by 1485. No trace now remains above ground; excavations in 1978 near the Crown Inn
Crown Hotel, Nantwich
The Crown Hotel, also known as the Crown Inn, is a timber-framed, black-and-white hotel and public house located at 24–26 High Street in the town of Nantwich in Cheshire, England. The present building dates from shortly after 1583...
uncovered terracing and two ditches, one or both of which possibly formed the castle's bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
.
History
William de Malbanc
William de Malbanc was a Norman landowner who was Lord of Wich Malbanc, now known as Nantwich, Cheshire, given to Hugh d'Avranches by William I of England.-Early life:...
. Archaeological evidence suggests that the castle stood on slightly elevated ground between the River Weaver
River Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included eleven locks, was completed in 1732...
and the modern High Street and Mill Street, probably near the Crown Inn
Crown Hotel, Nantwich
The Crown Hotel, also known as the Crown Inn, is a timber-framed, black-and-white hotel and public house located at 24–26 High Street in the town of Nantwich in Cheshire, England. The present building dates from shortly after 1583...
. This is one of the highest points in Nantwich, and would have commanded a strong position near the ford of the Weaver, which was located to the south of the existing bridge
Nantwich Bridge
Nantwich Bridge is a stone bridge carrying Welsh Row over the River Weaver in the town of Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The existing bridge replaces a 17th-century stone bridge; it dates from 1803 and is listed at grade II...
.
Although a baronial castle, Nantwich was not one of the major castles of Cheshire. The only description, which dates from an 1818 history of the town by John Weld Platt, claims it was "square, surmounted at each angle with turrets. The outer walls of the castle were defended by a moat of considerable breadth, passable only by a draw-bridge." However, the later historian James Hall considers Platt's description to be "purely fictitious, and therefore of no historical importance".
After the death of the third baron in around 1160–70 without male issue, the lands and privileges of the barony were divided between his three daughters. An inquisition dated 15 May 1288 states that the castle passed to his eldest daughter, Philippa; this is the earliest documentary evidence of its existence. Philippa Malbank married Thomas, Lord Basset, and their daughter and co-heir, also Philippa, married Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick
Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick
Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick , Earl of Warwick, Baron of Hocknorton and Hedenton, was the son of Waleran de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Warwick and Margaret, daughter of Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford and Maud of Essex...
. The castle passed back to the Earl of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
in the 13th century, when Philippa, Countess of Warwick, died without issue.
On 22 June 1278, the castle was granted by Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
to Randle de Merton, and then passed to Sir Randle Praers on 25 August of the same year. His grandson Thomas Praers alienated most of his lands, including the castle, to his neighbour John Gryffyn of Bartherton during his lifetime for the nominal rent of one rose annually. This act appears to have been contested as, on 16 May 1344, Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
, Earl of Chester, wrote:
On Thomas Praers' death, the castle passed by the marriage of his daughter and heir, Elizabeth, to Sir Robert Fouleshurst, and subsequently remained in the Fouleshurst family.
The castle was last recorded in 1462, and had fallen into ruins by 1485. Stone from the castle is thought to have been reused in St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church, Nantwich
St Mary's Church, Nantwich, is in the centre of the market town of Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It has been called the "Cathedral of South Cheshire" and it is considered by some to be one of the finest medieval...
, according to some sources for building the Kingsley Chapel (south transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
); however, the chapel probably dates from around 1405. In 1550, the area was called Lamburcote or Lambercote, and was grazing land. By the early 19th century, when George Ormerod
George Ormerod
George Ormerod was an English antiquary and historian. Amongst his writings was a major account of the history of Cheshire, a county in northwestern England.-Biography:...
wrote his History, no trace of the castle remained above ground. Much of the area was levelled for use as a car park in the 1950s.
Modern remains
In 1978, excavations behind the Crown InnCrown Hotel, Nantwich
The Crown Hotel, also known as the Crown Inn, is a timber-framed, black-and-white hotel and public house located at 24–26 High Street in the town of Nantwich in Cheshire, England. The present building dates from shortly after 1583...
by Robina McNeil Sale and others found evidence of terracing, perhaps representing a platform or mound. These excavations also uncovered two aligned ditches, a steep-sided earlier one, possibly pre-medieval in date, and a larger medieval one. The later of these might have formed the outer bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
of the castle, although it is smaller than those of most castles, possibly because the nearby river formed a natural barrier. Alternatively, it might have been used as a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
. This ditch was allowed to silt up in the 13th century, which might indicate when the castle ceased to have a defensive function. The earlier ditch might be an earlier part of the castle's defences, which was replaced by the later ditch. Alternatively, it might form part of an earlier structure, perhaps the ditch mentioned in the Domesday survey
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...
as surrounding one side of the town's salt houses.
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
was uncovered during sewerage works in 1979.
No evidence for stone buildings has yet been discovered. This might be because the stone was entirely reused, or because the buildings were located in a position which has not been excavated, perhaps under the modern High Street. It is possible that the castle was never more than a small timber structure.
The castle has influenced the town's street plan. The modern High Street is believed to trace the castle's outer wall; from Hospital Street (the town's earliest street), it curves gently round to meet the River Weaver, with a sharper bend which is currently occupied by Regent House
Regent and Warwick House
Regent House and Warwick House together form a large timber-framed building, probably dating from the late 16th century, in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. Regent House occupies numbers 12 and 14, and Warwick House numbers 16 and 18a, on the west side of the High Street ; Regent House occupies a bend...
. All the major streets on the east of the river radiate outwards from the High Street. The name "Castle Street" is believed to derive from the castle, although the name was first recorded in 1489 when the castle was already in ruins.