Warblington Castle
| Warblington Castle | |
|
Hampshire | |
|---|---|
 Part of the remains of Warblington Castle | |
| Type: | Fortified manor house |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU729055 |
| Location: | 50°50’40"N, -0°57’57"W |
| Village: | Warblington |
| History | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | Ruined |
| Owned by: | Tom and Diana Bishop |
Warblington Castle or Warblington Manor is a moated manor in ruins near Langstone in Havant in south-easternmost Hampshire. Most of the castle was destroyed during the Civil War, leaving only a single gate tower, part of a wall, and a gateway. The property, now in the village of Warblington, is privately owned and does not allow for public access.[1]
Early History
At the time of the Domesday Book on 1086, the manor was owned by Roger Earl of Shrewsbury, and after his death in 1094, it was inherited by his second son, Hugh. The owner in 1186 was William de Courci.[2]
Some sources claim that the manor received a licence to crenellate in 1340[3] but this is disputed.[4] The manor passed through several hands before coming into the possession of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick in the 15th century.[5] Subsequently, the villagers were removed with the land becoming a private deer park for Neville.
With the execution of Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick by Henry VII, the manor passed to the crown.[5] In 1513, Henry VIII gave the manor to Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury who had a new moated manor built [5] between 1515 and 1525 [3] After Margaret Pole was attainted for treason temporary grants of the manor were made to William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton and Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton.[6] Henry VIII then granted the manor to Sir Richard Cotton.[7]
In October 1551, Mary of Guise the widow of James V of Scotland stayed a night in the castle as the guest of Sir Richard Cotton.[8] King Edward VI visited the "fair house of Sir Richard Cotton" in August 1552.[9] Elizabeth I may have visited for two days in 1586.[6] The Cotton family continued to hold the house until the Civil War.[7]
In January 1643, Parliamentarians under Colonel Norton garrisoned the house with a force of between 40 and 80 men.[7] It was besieged and taken by Lord Hopton although Colonel Norton managed to escape.[7][10]
The Cotton family were Royalists which resulted in the manor being largely demolished by Parliamentarian forces.[7] One turret of the gatehouse was left as an aid to navigation for ships in Langstone channel.[5] The turret is octagonal in form and four stories in height.[6] It is largely built from brick with stone dressing and battlements.[11] After the Restoration, the property was returned to the Cotton family who built a farmhouse near the ruin.[1] The latter is now Grade II listed.[12]
Today, the turret, the arch of the gate and the drawbridge support in the moat still survive.[3] The land remains private property. The remains of the castle is a grade II* listed building and a scheduled Monument.[4] The Listing specifics define it as a "gateway tower, including the moulded stone arch of the gate, some of the south wall of the tower, a complete south-east octagonal stair turret, of 5 storeys, and part of the east wall (facing the courtyard)".[13]
As of May 2020, the owners of the castle were retired Olympic rowers Tom and Diana Bishop who reside in the seven bedroom Old Farm House on the property.[14] At that time, the property also included four acres of gardens, an orchard and a swimming pool.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 [ http://research.hgt.org.uk/item/warblington-castle/ Warblington Castle]: Hampshire Gardens Trust
- ↑ A History of the County of Hampshire - Volume 3 pp 134-139: Manors: Warblington (Victoria County History)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Barron, William (1985). The Castles of Hampshire & Isle of Wight. Paul Cave Publications. p. 50. ISBN 0-86146-048-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Phillip Davis. "Warblington Castle, Havant". Gatehouse Website. http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/1299.html. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lloyd, David W (1974). Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs. City of Portsmouth. p. 23.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 A History of the County of Hampshire - Volume 3 pp 134-139: Warblington (Victoria County History)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Godwin, G.N (1973). The Civil War in Hampshire (1642-45) and the Story of Basing House. Laurence Oxley. pp. 157–158. ISBN 0-9501347-2-4.
- ↑ Calendar State Papers Foreign Edward (London, 1861), p. 190, (TNA SP68/9/85).
- ↑ James Orchard Halliwell, Letters of the Kings of England, vol. 2 (London, 1846), p. 57.
- ↑ Godwin, G.N (1973). The Civil War in Hampshire (1642-45) and the Story of Basing House. Laurence Oxley. p. 397. ISBN 0-9501347-2-4.
- ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Hampshire & The Isle of Wight, 1967 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09606-4page 641
- ↑ National Heritage List 1091613: Warblington Castle Farmhouse (Grade II listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1154484: Warblington Castle (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ A 17th century home full of history, complete with mediæval tower and outdoor pool