Wallingford Castle
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Wallingford Castle is situated in Wallingford in the English county of Oxfordshire (historically in Berkshire until 1974 reorganization), adjacent to the River Thames.
Wallingford Castle is generally thought to have been built by Robert D'Oyly between 1067 and 1071 on orders from William the Conqueror, to the Norman motte and bailey design, though it has been suggested that Miles Crispin may have founded it. It was strengthened by Brien FitzCount before the wars between King Stephen and Empress Matilda, and Stephen's forces attacked it many times, before he was in turn attacked by the soon-to-be King Henry II. FitzCount established a prison within the castle, called Cloere Brien. It was described as "most securely fortified by impregnable walls". Ealdred of Abingdon, Edward I, Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley, Waleran de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Worcester, Owen Tudor, Margaret of Anjou and Judge David Jenkins were all imprisoned here. King John added further to the castle, and Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall spent substantial sums on it: during the 13th century it gained two further walls and ditches. Joan of Kent died at the castle in 1387. The castle contained St Nicholas's College, established by Miles Crispin. The castle fell into decline in the 16th century, but in the 17th century, it was strengthened again for supporters of Charles I during the war with Oliver Cromwell. It was the last English stronghold to surrender during the English Civil War, following the surrender of Thomas Blagge (1646) after a siege conducted by Thomas Fairfax and Cromwell later ordered it to be destroyed (1652). The site was a meeting-place for non-conformists later in that century. A large gothic house was built on the site in 1837 but demolished in 1972. The castle grounds are now open to the public, and more information can be found at Wallingford Museum.
The constables of Wallingford Castle have included the following:
- Miles Crispin;
- Maud Crispin;
- Brien FitzCount;
- Eleanor of Aquitaine;
- Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent;
- Richard Fitz Roy;
- Ranulph de Blondeville, 4th Earl of Chester;
- Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall;
- Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester;
- Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall;
- Piers Gaveston;
- Hugh the younger Despenser;
- Isabella of France;
- Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March;
- John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall;
- Sir John Stonor;
- Edward, the Black Prince;
- Aubrey de Vere, 10th Earl of Oxford;
- John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset;
- William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire;
- Henry IV of England;
- Thomas Chaucer;
- William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk;
- Alice de la Pole;
- John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk;
- Richard Grey;
- Francis Lovell, Viscount Lovell;
- Arthur, Prince of Wales;
- Sir Henry Norreys;
- Francis Knollys (the elder);
- William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury;
- Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire.
[edit] References
- Hedges, J.K. (1881) Wallingford History. Wm Clowes, London.
- Keats-Rohan , K.S.B. (1989) The devolution of the Honour of Wallingford, 1066-1148. Oxoniensia 54 , 311.
[edit] External links
- Wallingford History Gateway
- Royal Berkshire History: Wallingford Castle
- Map sources for Wallingford Castle
