Monument record 1160/1/23 - Faukestour, Northampton Castle

One of the towers on the castle wall circuit. Possibly the south tower which survived into the 19th century or the tower on the east side as shown on Speed's map and presumably destroyed in 1662.

{1} Old tower begun at time of Henry The Elder 1100-35; in 1323 reported to be in decayed state; commissioners unable to estimate cost of completion of works;

{2} Early C14th survey cites old tower called "Faukestour" but unable to estimate cost of completion or repair;

{3} Along circuit of walls were Falkes' Tower & New Tower & six other smaller towers mentioned from time to time;

{4}1323 survey refers to old tower called Fawkestour; appears to have stood outside curtain wall; [says also that tower appears on plan published in 1800 in Gentleman's Magazine so would appear to be equating it with south bastion];

{5} Mentions tower & state of its repair;

{6} Between 1217-19 #150 spent on repairs to Faukes Tower;

{7}Survey of 1321 records that old tower called Faukes Tower had been begun during reign of Henry The Elder but had never been completed; named after notorious early C13th Constable of castle Falkes de Breaute; may be tower on south side of bailey wall which survived until C19th or may be that tower on east side shown in 1610;
Chapman suggests that either south or east tower shown along inner bailey wall may have been Faukes Tower;

<1> MISCELLANEOUS CHANCERY INQUISITIONS, (unchecked) (Document). SNN4380.

<2> Serjeantson R.M., 1907, The Castle of Northampton, p.34 (checked) (Article). SNN4129.

<3> Serjeantson R.M., 1908, The Castle of Northampton, p.56 (checked) (Article). SNN3900.

<4> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.34 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<5> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1963, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.II), p.750-53 (checked) (Series). SNN3801.

<6> Calendar of Pipe Rolls, 2 Henry III rot.6 (unchecked) (Document). SNN3785.

<7> Chapman A., Northampton Castle: A Review of The Evidence, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN2966.

<8> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

Record last edited

Mar 25 2025 1:08PM