Wakefield Castle,Lowe HillorLawe Hillwas a castle built in the 12th century on a hill on the north side of theRiver CaldernearWakefield,England. Its name derives from theAnglo Saxonhlaewmeaning a mound or cairn, possibly a burial mound orbarrow.[1][2]The mound, situated a quarter mile from the river, was separated from the town by flat swampy land and was seen as a good site for a fortification.
| Wakefield Castle | |
|---|---|
| Thornes Park,Wakefield,West Yorkshire | |
 Grass covered earthwork and tree covered motte at Lowe Hill | |
  Wakefield Castle | |
| Coordinates | 53°40′21″N1°30′26″W/ 53.672623°N 1.507191°W grid referenceSE32651968 |
| Site information | |
| Owner | City of WakefieldMDC |
| Condition | motte |
History
editThe remains of the motte and bailey castle are located in Thornes Park, in the centre of Wakefield overlooking the River Calder. It consists of the motte and two baileys. The motte is about nine metres high and 25 metres in diameter surrounded by a ditch that has been filled in. The inner bailey encloses the motte in a rough square of around forty metres across. There is a smaller outer bailey to the north-east. There has been little disturbance to the site since excavations in 1953[3]which indicated that the castle was probably anadulterine castle,built without permission, and abandoned unfinished.[4]English Heritage granted permission for a geophysical (earth resistance) and topographical survey in 2015/16.[5]
William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surreyprobably started to build the castle, an earthworkmotte and baileystructure during the Anarchy, the civil war between Stephen and Matilda. William had supported Stephen's claim.[1]Wakefield Castle and neighbouringSandal Castlewere granted toThomas, Earl of Lancasterin 1318 and in 1324King Edward IIcommitted them to the care of Richard Moseley.[1]At what time the castle was destroyed is not known but agreat galein 1330 which caused much damage in Wakefield may have been the cause. This story was retold by the antiquarian,John Lelandin his book, "The Itinerary of John Leland", a recollection of his travels around England between 1535 and 1543:[6]
A quarter of a mile withowte Wakefeld apperith an hille of erth caste up, wher sum say that one of Erles Warines began to build, and as fast as he buildid violence of winde defacid the work. This is like a fable. Sum say that it was nothing W. R. but a wind mille hille. The place is now caullid Lohille.
The earliest records of the castle are from 1170 in a list of constables of the area. There are suggestions that the hill may have been built in Roman times[7]and even that the layout of the site shows signs of being from Danish settlement.[8]
In July 1558 abeaconwas lit on Lowe Hill to warn the population that theSpanish Armadahad been sighted offThe LizardinCornwall.[1]
References
edit- ^abcdWalker, J. W. (1966).Wakefield its History and People Vol.1&2 3rd Edn.S.R. Publishers.
- ^Mills, A. D. (1998).Dictionary of English Place-Names.Oxford.ISBN0-19-280074-4.
- ^Hope-Taylor, Brian (1958).Report on the Excavations at Lowe Hill, Wakefield, Yorkshire.Wakefield Historical Society.
- ^"Lowe Hill motte and bailey castle - A Scheduled Monument in Wakefield West, Wakefield".Retrieved25 June2021.
- ^Rochford, Michael J (2016).Wakefield Then and Now - Extraordinary Tales from the Merrie City.Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books.ISBN978-1473858503.
- ^Toulmin Smith, Lucy (1907).The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535 - 1543 Parts I - III.London: George Bell and Sons. pp. 41–42.
- ^Lupton, J.H (1864).Wakefiled Worthies or, Biogrpahical Sketches of Men of Note connected, by birth or otherwise with the town of Wakefield in Yorkshire.London: Hamilton & Co. p. 264.
- ^Saunders, John (1848).The People's Journal Vol IV.London: People's Journal Office. p. 102.