Building record 1160/0/187 - Castle Postern Gate & Walls, Black Lion Hill

Walls and gateway. Medieval, but re-erected 1879. Constructed from ironstone.

{1} Walls and gateway. Medieval re-erected 1879. Ironstone. Double chamfered plinth. Wall with off-centre gateway. The gateway is flanked by buttresses with a triple pointed arch, and a plank door with above a tall gable with ashlar coping and moulded kneelers. To the left an 8 metre stretch of wall with double chamfered coping, to the right a similar 10 metre wall with an iron gateway inserted.

{3} Letter from Chief Engineer of railway company stating company's intention to dismantle postern gate and rebuild it in new location within boundary wall of railway station; this to serve as memorial to destroyed castle; wall also to be faced with ashlar from castle.

{4} Postern gate taken down & rebuilt in boundary wall of Castle Station.

{5} All that can be seen today is old postern gate which was rebuilt by railway company into boundary wall of station.

{6} Postern gate reconstructed in early 1880s; no constructional drawings known to exist; stands at entrance of Northampton Castle Station and takes form of covered gateway between station car park and pavement on Black Lion Hill; built of mixture of ferruginous stone & limestone; shallow buttresses project from each door jamb; vaulted stone roof; above entrance arch takes form of stone gable with parapets and ornamental kneelers which is repeated to rear; limestone roof slates; design of reconstruction essentially Victorian Gothic; stone retaining wall with roll moulding coping abutts both sides of gate; comparison with original postern gate made to establish authenticity; majority of structure does not appear to reflect location of original postern masonry; present structure should be regarded therefore as Victorian memorial to destruction of castle rather than re-building of medieval postern; illustration of postern before removal; re-drawing of Dryden's original survey and survey drawing of present structure by Giggins; recommendations for maintenance and enhancement.

{7} Intention to take down postern doorway and rebuild it in boundary wall of station; boundary wall also to be faced with ashlar veneering of castle wall; portions of doorway to be numbered so they are reinstated in same relative positions on new site.

{8} Contact strip may show photographs taken to accompany Giggins report of 1990; photographer not recorded; loaction of negatives uncertain.

{9} Postern gate survives.

{10} Postern from curtain wall above river was removed and re-erected close to Castle Railway Station.

{13} Describes monument and highlighs its significance - visible symbol of castle's existence; historic association with events of castle; historic interest as Victorian memorial to destruction of castle; surviving medieval fabric; contribution to context of castle; potential focal point for public recognition of site.

{17} the former Postern Gate, which is a listed building, is a rebuilding of a gateway originally located on the western side of the castle, and the redevelopment could be utilised to enhance its setting and appreciation either in its present location or elsewhere.

{18} Three photos dated 1990, one dated 1993;

{19} Drawing of postern gate with measurements;

Cadman, G, 2021, Northampton Castle's Postern Gate (Note). SNN112927.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/10 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> 1879, An Hour Among the Echoes of Northampton Castle, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN4373.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SW14 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> 1967, The Castle of Northampton, (checked) (Article). SNN3830.

<6> GIGGINS B.L., 1990, Report on The Postern Gate, Black Lion Hill, Northampton, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN3622.

<6> GIGGINS B.L., 2011, The Postern Gate, Black Lion Hill, Northampton, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN109306.

<7> 1879, The Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Article). SNN3621.

<8> 1990, Photographs, (checked) (Photographs). SNN51690.

<9> HARTSHORNE C.H., 1846, The Castle and Parliaments of Northampton, (unchecked) (Paper/s). SNN3978.

<10> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.35 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<11> Sharman T., 2006, Condition Report on Twenty-Four Northamptonshire County Heritage Sites, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105591.

<12> Paul Reading & Partners, 2003, Report on A Structural Survey of Nine County Heritage Sites, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105863.

<13> Cadman, G., 2012, Northampton Postern Gate - Background and Significance, (checked) (Notes). SNN108118.

<14> Walker C., 2011, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Castle Station, Northampton, (unchecked) (Report). SNN107932.

<15> Conisbee, 2012, Northampton Postern Gate Structural Survey, (unchecked) (Report). SNN108408.

<16> Jackson, Z., 2012, Bat Activity Surveys of Six County Heritage Sites in Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN108414.

<17> Chapman A., 2004, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Castle Station, Northampton, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104686.

<18> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<19> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/425, 426 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Oct 30 2024 2:08PM