Chichester Castle
| Chichester Castle | |
|
Sussex | |
|---|---|
 Remains of the motte | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU863052 |
| Location: | 50°50’23"N, 0°46’33"W |
| City: | Chichester |
| History | |
| Built 11th century | |
| Information | |
Chichester Castle stood in the heart of Sussex's county town, Chichester. Shortly after the Norman Conquest of England, Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, ordered the construction of a castle at Chichester. Chichester Castle was one of 11 fortified sites to be established in Sussex before 1100.[1]
The castle was built in a historic place: it was within boundary of Noviomagus Reginorum, the Roman town of Chichester, in the northern part of the Roman military settlement.
History
The castle was the headquarters of the Rape of Chichester, the westernmost part of Sussex, which was administered from here. Situated in the north-east corner of Chichester, the castle was protected by the city walls. As it was an urban castle inserted into a pre-existing settlement, buildings were probably cleared to make way for the castle. Chichester Castle was of timber construction; although some timber castles were rebuilt in stone, there is no evidence that this was the case at Chichester Castle.[2]
Although originally built by the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earls of Sussex owned the castle in the period 1154–1176, after which it passed into possession of the Crown.[1] Early in the 13th century, Chichester Castle was used as a court and jail. Chichester and Oxford Castle were some of the earliest urban castles to be used for this purpose, but gradually most urban castles were also used in this way.[3]
In 1216, in the final phase of the First Barons' War against King John of England, the castle, along with many others in the southern counties, amongst them Reigate Castle, was captured by the French. The castle was recaptured by the English in the spring of 1217.[2] In the same year, King Henry III ordered the castle's destruction.[1] Between 1222 and 1269, Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, gave the site to Franciscan| order, the Greyfriars, for them use as the site of a friary.
The remains of the motte are still visible today in Priory Park;[2] the motte is protected as a Scheduled Monument.[1][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 National Monuments Record: No. 1386089 – Chichester Castle
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chichester District Council, Castle, Chichester.gov.uk, http://www.chichester.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1940, retrieved 21 May 2009
- ↑ Drage (1987), p. 127.
- ↑ Chichester District Council, Priory Park, Chichester.gov.uk, http://www.chichester.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5724, retrieved 22 May 2009
- Drage, C (1987), Schofield, J; Leech, R, eds., "Urban castles", Urban archaeology in Britain: research report 61 (The Council for British Archaeology): 117–132, SSN 0589-9036
- Jones, Richard (2003), Rudling, David, ed., "Hastings to Herstmonceux: the castles of Sussex", The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000 (Heritage Marketing & Publications): 171–178, ISBN 0-9544456-1-9
Further reading
- Plantagenet Somerset Fry (1980), The David & Charles Book of Castles, David & Charles, ISBN 0-7153-7976-3
- Magilton, J (1995), "Chichester Castle Reappears", The Archaeology of Chichester and District 1995 (Chichester District Council): 23–26
