Monument record 805/1 - Fotheringhay Castle

12th century motte and bailey castle surviving as an earthwork. The castle keep and inner curtain wall were extensively repaired during Edward IVs reign and the castle was well maintained throughout the reigns of the Tudor monarchs. Sold into private hands in 1603, the walling was gradually stripped so that little now remains. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here from 1586-7, until her execution in the great hall.

{1} Manorial: Section 3 in main report.
Fotheringhay was a substantial manor of 6 hides held freely in 1066 by Thorkell. From the conquest it was held by the Earls of Huntingdon, also at times the Earls of Northampton and the king of the Scots. The manor was forfeit to the crown in 1294. By the first half of the 13th century the manor was divided, part passing to the Dukes of York and then the house of Tudor. There was no resident lord in the 17th century and in 1806 it was bought by the Belseys who were responsible for various early 19th century improvements in the village including rebuilding various houses. Further work was then conducted by Lord Overstone who purchased the village in 1842. A manor house will have existed in 1086 but its location is not known. When the castle was constructed, in the late 11th or early 12th century it will have become the manorial centre and an area outside the castle was known as the manor in 1340-1. It may perhaps have been in the area of the outer ward. However this need not be the site of the late Saxon manor, lying as it does at some distance from the church. It is perhaps possible that the original manor lay on the site of the later monastery, being land which the lord granted for the foundation.
The motte and its eastern bailey is the castle which was probably originally built in the early 12th century by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton. There is no record of it ever having being subject to a major siege but the castle was taken by surprise in 1220-1 by the Earl of Albemarle, easily taken because its defences were relatively weak and its garrison small. After its acquisition in 1377 by Edmund Langley the castle, then in a ruinous state, was extensively rebuilt and extended. Following his accession in 1461 Edward IV began major new series of works, which were underway in 1463-6. These included construction on the chambers, gallery, latrines, turrets and kitchen; roofing of the new chambers and of the turrets at the end of them took place between 1466-9 and other works in 1478. There were also other associated works on the parks, the College and the road system. Catherine of Aragon is said to have conducted extensive refurbishment of the castle in the first half of the 16th century. The castle was used as a prison for Mary Queen of Scots but following her execution was little used, except as a militia store. According to Stukeley the castle had already been mostly demolished by the early 18th century and the western-moat filled in during the 19th century. Any surviving fragments of the castle buildings were incorporated in the late 19th century Castle Farm.

{5} Three photographs showing masonry unearthed in the early 19th century.

{7} Probably built by Simon de St. Liz, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton, who married the daughter of Judith, Countess of Huntingdon and niece of the Conqueror. The present motte and inner bailey or court are probably his work. It does not appear to have been important as a military stronghold, and from the late 13th century it took on the dual role of royal palace and State prison. It was apparently considerably rebuilt and enlarged in the late 14th century by Edmund Langley, son of Edward III, and the outer bailey or court may date from this period, as perhaps does the infilling of the motte ditch on the E. side. Other alterations and additions were made in the 15th century but these do not now survive. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century and a gradual process of demolition of all its walls and buildings was largely completed by the early 18th century. The few remaining building fragments still standing by the late 19th century were incorporated into the barns of the present Castle Farm by Lord Overstone who also filled in the former moat on the W. side of the site. There are a number of descriptions of the castle at various dates. The most complete is that of 1341 before it was enlarged, and this seems to indicate that only the motte, then with a stone tower, and the present inner bailey existed. Within the bailey were two chapels, a great hall, chambers and the kitchen, together with a gatehouse over a drawbridge. However there is mention of another group of buildings outside the castle, then called The Manor. These probably lay N.W. of the motte on the site of Castle Farm. A later account, dating from just before Mary Queen of Scots was sent to Fotheringhay in 1586, notes the existence of the outer moat and two separate gates. The last detailed description was made in 1625 just before demolition started, and is clear enough to enable a conjectural reconstruction to be made of the castle’s layout at that time The castle was then said to be ‘….very strong, built of stone, and moated about with a double moat. The R. Nen on the S. side serves for the outer moat, and the Mill-brook on the E. side between the little park and the Castleyard, called the old orchard or garden, serves for the outer moat on that side; between which mill-brook and the Castle there has been a great pond, landed up, on the E. side of the Castle. The gate and forepart of the house fronts the N., and as soon as you are passed the drawbridge, at the gate there is a pair of stairs, leading up to some fair lodgings and up higher to the wardrobe, and so on to the fetterlock on top of the mound on the N.W. corner of the castle, which is built round of 8 or 16 square with chambers lower and upper ones roundabout, but somewhat decayed and so are the leads on the top; in the very midst of the round yard in the same there has been a well, now landed up. When you come down again and go towards the hall, which is wonderful spacious, there is a goodly and fair court, within the midst of the castle. Of the left-hand is the chapel, goodly lodgings, the great dining-room, and a large room at this present well garnished with pictures. Near the hall is the buttery and kitchen; and at the other end of the kitchen a yard, convenient for wood and such purposes, with large brew- houses and bake-houses and houses convenient for offices. From the gate going out of that yard, there is another yard half-encompassing the castle, going roundabout to the first gate and a great barn in the W. side of the said yard. A gate-house and another ruinous house in the E. corner of the same.’

{13} History of construction, use, and alteration of the site;

{24} Radiocarbon dating of material taken from core samples of the motte mound indicate that it was built in the mid/late 11th to late 12th centuries AD;

{18} A suite of surveys (Aerial, GPR and magnetometer) were undertaken in 2017-8 in order to further elucidate the layout of the various structures within and immediately beyond the outer bailey of the castle. There are distinct discrepancies between the surveys and 17th century sources. Geophysical survey has shown that there was a range of free-standing buildings and ancillary buildings in the inner bailey. It may be that these were later buildings constructed after the demolition of the castle. The remains of the tower on the motte were also identified by the geophysical surveys.

{19} Fotheringhay Castle was built probably by Simon de St.Liz c.1100. It was largely rebuilt by Edmund Langley son of Edward III. It is remembered chiefly as the place where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner from 1586 to her execution here on 8th February, 1587. Little remains but the powerful motte and bailey on which it was rebuilt in the late 14th century. The earthworks are almost certainly of the 12th cent. There is an outer bailey which was probably never walled. In the early 18th century, the castle was described as 'mostly demolished'.

{20} Formerly among the English lands of the Scottish Kings, Fotheringhay was forfeited to the English Crown in 1294 at the time of the war with John Balliol. In 1377 it was granted to Edmund of Langley who largely rebuilt it. Edward IV spent heavily on it.

{21} It remained a royal possession until 1603, and was held in dower by Henry VII and VIII's consorts in turn. Its lodgings were maintained in good condition although its usefulness as a defensive work declined. In 1603 it passed to private hands and was still fairly intact when surveyed in 1625. Soon after then, the great hall was acquired by Sir Robert Cotton and its interior removed to Connington in Huntingdonshire.

{25} Present condition as noted by authority 2; the site is under private ownership. Re-surveyed at 1/2500.
G.P. AO/62/52/5 Fallen Keep Masonry (not in situ) /6 Notice on fenced masonry /7 Motte, aspect from west.

{26} No change.

{27} A `tower' is documented at the site in 1340. Rebuilt in 1377-1402 as a stone castle with a stone D-shaped keep on the motte. In good repair until at least 1625.

{35} Diagrams of the Great Chamber as arranged for the trial of Mary Queen of Scots, also a pamphlet of lithographic views in Oundle and Fotheringhay, which includes a view of the castle mound;

<1> FOARD G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Fotheringhay (Medieval and Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100481.

<2> 1696, Fotheringhay 1696, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100483.

<3> 1793, Fotheringhay Inclosure Map 1793, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100484.

<4> BROADSIDES, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN47502.

<4> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (33), 33/37 (checked) (Journal). SNN103380.

<5> 1979, Fotheringhay Castle, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN103357.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.43-46/site 34 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<8> IVENS R.J., 2007, Report on An Archaeological Watching Brief at Castle Farm, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, 2007, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN106007.

<9> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006, (unchecked) (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<10> 1928, Excursion (to Fotheringhay Castle), (unchecked) (Article). SNN106451.

<11> Cadman, G., 1999, Fotheringhay Castle, (unchecked) (Note). SNN106450.

<12> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<13> Albion Archaeology, 2002, Fotheringhay Castle, 'Little Park' and Adjacent Earthworks, Northamptonshire, p.28 (checked) (Report). SNN102585.

<14> Foard, G. and Britnell, T., 2003, Fotheringhay: A New Perspective from the 1640's, pp.140-3 (checked) (Article). SNN103924.

<15> Muntz, R.A., Some Ancient Interests of Fotheringhay, (unchecked) (Book). SNN108296.

<16> Driver J.T., 2004, the Careers of Sir Ralph Hastings and Sir Guy Wolston: Two Northamptonshire Gentry as Knights of the Shire in the Parliament of 1472-5 and Servants of The Crown, p.7-20 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109354.

<17> Foard G.; Hall D.;Britnell T., 2004, The Historic Landscape of Rockingham Forest, p.89 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109359.

<18> Parry, S, 2019, Aerial and geophysical surveys at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire, October 2017-May 2018 (Report). SNN111625.

<19> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 211 (Series). SNN1320.

<20> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1963, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.II), p. 649-50 (Series). SNN3801.

<21> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1975, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.III)- 1485-1660 (part 1), p. 248-251 (Series). SNN75879.

<22> Northamptonshire Notes and Queries (Series 1), 1/13 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN6086.

<23> Anon, 1787, History and Antiquities of Fotheringhay (Book). SNN47494.

<24> The Round Mounds Project, 2016, Radiocarbon dates from 10 castle mounds – results of year 1 (Website). SNN111626.

<25> Colquhoun, FD, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 FDC 09-MAY-62 (Note). SNN111652.

<26> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 22-OCT-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<27> Cathcart King, D J, 1983, Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands, p. 316 (Book). SNN112899.

<28> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p. 200 (Article). SNN100418.

<29> DICKINSON, 1956, HISTORIC FOTHERINGHAY (Uncertain). SNN55570.

<30> Bonney, H K, 1821, FOTHERINGHAY, 18-33 (Uncertain). SNN60175.

<31> Stukeley W., 1776, Itinerarium Curiosum (Series). SNN55468.

<32> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890503/890508/890519 (Archive). SNN113295.

<33> Historic England, Undated, Lantern slides, 897289 (Archive). SNN113064.

<34> Historic England, Fotheringhay Castle (Archive). SNN115114.

<35> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/116/1,2, DR/25/205/4 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Oct 2 2024 11:57AM