Banbury Castle was a medieval castle that stood near the centre of the town of Banbury, Oxfordshire. Historian John Kenyon notes that the castle is "remarkable for its early concentric shape".[1]
Banbury Castle was built in 1135 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, in a motte and bailey design.[2] The castle was later confiscated from Alexander by King Stephen in 1139, but was returned to the bishop later that year and mostly remained in the hands of later bishops until 1547.[2] The castle was protected by a castle-guard drawn from estates around Banbury.[3] The castle was strengthened between 1201–7 during the reign of King John.[4]
The castle was subsequently completely rebuilt; earlier historians had concluded that the rebuilding occurred in the late 13th century, but archaeological excavations in the 1970s demonstrated that the work occurred between 1225–50.[5] The new castle had a concentric pentagonal plan, with thick, embanked walls.[6] The castle had a gatehouse, although later damage means that its design remains uncertain.[1] Historian John Kenyon concludes that Banbury Castle is "remarkable for its early concentric shape", which is usually seen in somewhat later castles such as Harlech or Beaumaris.[1] By the second half of the 13th century the castle was being used as a prison by the bishops of Lincoln.[3]
The castle was bought by Edward Seymour, the Duke of Somerset, in 1547; it passed shortly afterwards to John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, who sold it to the Crown in 1551.[3] Shortly after this the prison in the castle diminished in size, vanishing entirely by the 1560s.[3] The prison was recreated in the 1580s, however, for holding recusants, that is to say Roman Catholics who refused to attend Church of England services as was required by law.[3] In 1595 Banbury Castle was leased to Richard Fiennes, 7th Baron Saye and Sele.[7]
When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, Banbury Castle was fortified by a Parliamentarian garrison under Richard Fiennes' son William.[8] After the battle of Edgehill in October, the Royalist army marched south and forced the surrender of the castle and its stock of 1,500 firearms.[7] The fortifications were strengthened and in 1644 the castle was besieged again, this time by Parliamentarian forces under the command of William Fiennes.[9] The royal governor, 18-year-old William Compton, held out between July and October, when Compton's brother, James, relieved the siege.[7] In November, Charles I dined in the castle.[7] In January 1646 Sir Edward Whalley placed the castle under siege again with a force of 3,000 men; the Royalist cause was collapsing, and in May Compton and his force of 300 men surrendered.[7]
After the war the castle itself was slighted, or deliberately demolished, in 1648 to prevent its further use; Fiennes was paid £2,000 by Parliament in compensation.[7] Stones from the castle were later used to build houses in the town.
Todayedit
Castle Street in 2016
Nothing can now be seen of Banbury Castle, whose location is marked by Castle Street.[10] The site was excavated in 1973–74.
^"A History of Banbury". Banbury Cross. from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
Bibliographyedit
Fasham, P. J. (1983). "Excavations in Banbury, 1972: second and final report". Oxoniensia 48. pp. 71–118.
Fry, Plantagenet Somerset (1980). The David & Charles Book of Castles. Newton Abbot, UK: David and Charles. ISBN0-7153-7976-3.
Kenyon, John R. (1990). Medieval Fortifications. London: Continuum. ISBN978-0-8264-7886-3.
MacKenzie, James Dixon (1896/2009). The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. General Books LLC. ISBN978-1-150-51044-1.
April 19, 2024
banbury, castle, medieval, castle, that, stood, near, centre, town, banbury, oxfordshire, historian, john, kenyon, notes, that, castle, remarkable, early, concentric, shape, banbury, oxfordshire, englandcoordinates52, 0628, 3348, 0628, 3348grid, referencegrid,. Banbury Castle was a medieval castle that stood near the centre of the town of Banbury Oxfordshire Historian John Kenyon notes that the castle is remarkable for its early concentric shape 1 Banbury CastleBanbury Oxfordshire EnglandBanbury CastleCoordinates52 03 46 N 1 20 05 W 52 0628 N 1 3348 W 52 0628 1 3348Grid referencegrid reference SP457407TypeMotte and bailey later concentric pentagonal castleSite informationConditionNo remainsSite historyEventsEnglish Civil War Contents 1 History 2 Today 3 See also 4 References 5 BibliographyHistory editBanbury Castle was built in 1135 by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln in a motte and bailey design 2 The castle was later confiscated from Alexander by King Stephen in 1139 but was returned to the bishop later that year and mostly remained in the hands of later bishops until 1547 2 The castle was protected by a castle guard drawn from estates around Banbury 3 The castle was strengthened between 1201 7 during the reign of King John 4 The castle was subsequently completely rebuilt earlier historians had concluded that the rebuilding occurred in the late 13th century but archaeological excavations in the 1970s demonstrated that the work occurred between 1225 50 5 The new castle had a concentric pentagonal plan with thick embanked walls 6 The castle had a gatehouse although later damage means that its design remains uncertain 1 Historian John Kenyon concludes that Banbury Castle is remarkable for its early concentric shape which is usually seen in somewhat later castles such as Harlech or Beaumaris 1 By the second half of the 13th century the castle was being used as a prison by the bishops of Lincoln 3 The castle was bought by Edward Seymour the Duke of Somerset in 1547 it passed shortly afterwards to John Dudley the Duke of Northumberland who sold it to the Crown in 1551 3 Shortly after this the prison in the castle diminished in size vanishing entirely by the 1560s 3 The prison was recreated in the 1580s however for holding recusants that is to say Roman Catholics who refused to attend Church of England services as was required by law 3 In 1595 Banbury Castle was leased to Richard Fiennes 7th Baron Saye and Sele 7 When the First English Civil War began in August 1642 Banbury Castle was fortified by a Parliamentarian garrison under Richard Fiennes son William 8 After the battle of Edgehill in October the Royalist army marched south and forced the surrender of the castle and its stock of 1 500 firearms 7 The fortifications were strengthened and in 1644 the castle was besieged again this time by Parliamentarian forces under the command of William Fiennes 9 The royal governor 18 year old William Compton held out between July and October when Compton s brother James relieved the siege 7 In November Charles I dined in the castle 7 In January 1646 Sir Edward Whalley placed the castle under siege again with a force of 3 000 men the Royalist cause was collapsing and in May Compton and his force of 300 men surrendered 7 After the war the castle itself was slighted or deliberately demolished in 1648 to prevent its further use Fiennes was paid 2 000 by Parliament in compensation 7 Stones from the castle were later used to build houses in the town Today edit nbsp Castle Street in 2016Nothing can now be seen of Banbury Castle whose location is marked by Castle Street 10 The site was excavated in 1973 74 See also editCastles in Great Britain and Ireland List of castles in EnglandReferences edit a b c Kenyon p 68 a b Mackenzie p 150 Banbury Buildings A History of the County of Oxford Volume 10 Banbury Hundred pp 29 42 accessed 22 June 2011 a b c d e Banbury Buildings A History of the County of Oxford Volume 10 Banbury Hundred pp 29 42 accessed 22 June 2011 Fry p 183 Fasham pp 79 117 Fasham p 117 a b c d e f Mackenzie p 151 Mackenzie p 151 Fasham pp 88 118 Mackenzie p 151 Fasham pp 88 118 A History of Banbury Banbury Cross Archived from the original on 14 December 2007 Retrieved 6 December 2007 Bibliography editFasham P J 1983 Excavations in Banbury 1972 second and final report Oxoniensia 48 pp 71 118 Fry Plantagenet Somerset 1980 The David amp Charles Book of Castles Newton Abbot UK David and Charles ISBN 0 7153 7976 3 Kenyon John R 1990 Medieval Fortifications London Continuum ISBN 978 0 8264 7886 3 MacKenzie James Dixon 1896 2009 The Castles of England Their Story and Structure General Books LLC ISBN 978 1 150 51044 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Banbury Castle amp oldid 1026344146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
