Northampton Castle

Northampton Castle was one of the most famous Norman castles in England.[1] The castle site was outside the western city gate, and defended on three sides by deep trenches. A branch of the River Nene provided a natural barrier on the western side. The castle had extensive grounds and a large keep. The gates were surrounded by bulwarks made of earth, used to mount artillery. The castle was "obliterated" by the arrival of a railway branch of what is now the West Coast Main Line in the 19th century, the station of which was built on the castle site and the construction of the original Northampton Castle railway station. All that remains of the castle today is the Postern Gate, near Northampton Railway Station.

Northampton Castle bastion from Historical Memorials of Northampton by C. H. Hartshorne[2]

A postern at Northampton Castle from Hartshorne

Northampton Castle
Northampton, England
All that remains of Northampton Castle: a postern that was dismantled from its original position and rebuilt into the wall of Northampton railway station
Northampton Castle
Coordinates	52.237°N 0.905°W / 52.237; -0.905
Type	Motte-and-bailey castle
Site information
Condition	Destroyed
Site history
Built	1084
Built by	Simon de Senlis

History

Early period

The castle was built under the stewardship of Simon de Senlis, the first Earl of Northampton, in 1084.[3] It took several years to complete, as there is no mention of it in the Domesday Book, the great survey of England completed in 1086. In the reign of Henry II, the castle was in the hands of the Crown. In the civil wars between King John and his barons, the latter used it as a stronghold. When the King prevailed, the castle was entrusted to Falkes de Breauté, whom the King admired for his courage during the war.[4]

In 1164, Thomas Becket was tried at the castle before a great council. Having escaped by dressing as a monk, Becket then fled to France.[3]

In 1264, in the wars between King Henry III and his nobles, the castle was owned by the confederate barons and governed by Simon de Montfort. When the King defeated the garrison, the castle again reverted to the Crown. It remained so until three years into King Edward III's reign, when Thomas Wake, who was then sheriff of Blisworth, claimed it belonged to the county under his jurisdiction.[5]

In 1452, thirty years into King Henry VI's reign, the castle was rented to Robert Caldecote for 20 years, at the annual rate of £5. The rent of the castle included:

... all the wifes belonging to the constableship of [the castle], and the herbage within the walls, and in the trenches, as also a certain meadow, and right of fishing in the river ...[6]

By the late 17th century, it was in the hands of Robert Haselrig.[7]

Victorian era

The development of railways in England during the Victorian period initially by-passed Northampton. The main line from London, Euston, now known as the West Coast Main Line passed about five miles south of the town. However, in 1879 a loop line via Northampton was constructed. In that year the castle and its foundations were demolished by the London and North Western Railway for the construction of Northampton Castle railway station. The only remains that survived were some earth banks beside St Andrew's Road and the re-positioned postern gate, "a minor archway".[1]

The station was rebuilt in 1963–64[8] with the suffix "Castle" to its name dropped as it had become the only remaining station in the town. Excavations in 1961 prior to the rebuilding revealed 12th century defences including a ditch 90 feet wide and 30 feet deep and a bank 80 feet wide and 20 feet high.[1]

21st century

A volunteer group called the Friends of Northampton Castle (FONC) was established to publicise the castle and provide information about the history of the site and the castle itself. In July 2012, FONC commissioned a 3D reconstruction of the castle which was published on YouTube.[9]

Expansion of the town and the 2011 launch of a Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone made the need to expand and re-develop and double the size of the railway station,[10] possibly with the name restored to "Northampton Castle". Work began in 2013. The opportunity was taken to carry out further, more extensive, excavations in 2012–13 which uncovered various items of Anglo-Saxon origin. Among their number were a brooch, pottery fragments and an ironstone wall.[10]

Literary connections

Northampton Castle is the location of the death of Prince Arthur, the young nephew to King John and claimant to the throne, in Shakespeare's King John, Act IV Scene III, in which he leaps to his death from the castle walls in an escape attempt.[11]

The fate of the real-life Prince Arthur remains mysterious. He was last recorded as a sixteen-year-old captive in Rouen Castle in April 1203, whereafter he was rumoured to have been killed on King John's orders. It may be thought more likely that he died in France rather than England.[12]

References

1. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1961). The Buildings of England – Northamptonshire. London and New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-300-09632-3.
2. Historical Memorials of Northampton Charles Henry Hartshorne, 1848 Reprinted: General books 2012 ISBN 1235776204 ISBN 978-1235776205
3. "A Castle For Northampton". Friends of Northampton Castle. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
4. Beesley, Alfred (1841). The History of Banbury: including copious historical and antiquarian notices of the neighbourhood. Nichols & Son. p. 101. Falkes de Breauté Northampton Castle.
5. "The Wakes of Blisworth". Wake History. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
6. The history of the town of Northampton, 1841
7. The decline of Northampton Castle. Friends of Northampton Castle. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
8. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1961). The Buildings of England – Northamptonshire. London and New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 327. ISBN 978-0-300-09632-3.
9. "Northampton Castle 3D Reconstruction". Friends of Northampton Castle. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
10. Historical finds at site of new station Northampton Herald & Post 10 January 2012
11. Peter Whitfield (5 February 2016). Mapping Shakespeare's World. Bodleian Library. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-85124-257-3.
12. "Arthur of Brittany Captured". History Today. 1 August 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2019.

Further reading

• The Castle of Northampton by Rev. R. M. Serjeantson, 1908
• An hour among the echoes of Northampton Castle by Rev. P. M. Eastman, 1879
• Historical Memorials of Northampton by Charles Henry Hartshorne, 1883

External links

• The Friends of Northampton Castle