Bolingbroke Castle
| Bolingbroke Castle | |
|---|---|
| Part ofLincolnshire | |
| Bolingbroke,England | |
 The ruinedwallsof Bolingbroke Castle | |
| Type | Enclosure castle |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Heritage Lincolnshire |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1220 |
| Built by | Ranulf, Earl of Chester |
| In use | 13th to 15th century |
| Materials | Spilsby Greenstone Timber Earth |
| Demolished | c. 1652 |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Winceby |
| Events | Birthplace ofHenry of Bolingbroke |
Bolingbroke Castleis a ruined castle inBolingbroke(nowOld Bolingbroke) inLincolnshire,England.
Construction[edit]
Most of the castle is built ofSpilsbygreenstone,as are several nearby churches. The local greenstone is a limestone that proved to be porous, prone to rapid deterioration when exposed to weather and a substandard building material. The castle was constructed as an irregular polygonal enclosure. The castle is one of the earliest examples of a uniform castle designed and built without akeep.It was originally surrounded by a large water-filledmoat31 metres (102 ft) wide. Thecurtain wallwas up to 5 metres (16 ft) thick and defended by five D-shaped towers and a twin-towered gate house.
Similar to another castle built by Ranulf during the same period atBeestonin Cheshire, Bolingbroke had no inner defensive keep. The castle relied instead on thick walls and the five D-shaped defensive corner towers. Some design similarities are noted with the contemporary castle atBoulogne-sur-Mer,France that was also constructed without acentral donjon.
History[edit]
The area was first fortified by the Saxons in the 6th or 7th century. In the 12th century theNormansbuilt aMotte-and-baileyon a nearby hill above the settlement of Bolingbroke.[1] The present structure was founded byRanulf, Earl of Chester,in 1220 shortly after he returned from theFifth Crusade.[2]
Ranulf died in 1232 without a male heir, and his titles, lands and castles passed to his sisters. Following the death ofHenry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancasterin 1361 Bolingbroke passed through marriage into the ownership ofJohn of Gaunt.His wifeBlanche of Lancaster,daughter of Henry of Grosmont, was born at the castle in 1342. John and Blanche's son,Henry (the future Henry IV),was also born at Bolingbroke Castle in 1367 and consequently was known as "Henry Bolingbroke" before he became king in 1399.[3][2]
By the 15th and 16th century, the castle had fallen into disrepair although repairs were carried out during theTudor period.In 1636 a survey found that all of the towers were effectively beyond repair.[1]
At the start of theFirst English Civil War,Bolingbroke was again put to use as a military fortification garrisoned byRoyalist forces.In 1643 it was badly damaged in a siege during theBattle of Winceby.The following year, the castle was recaptured from theParliamentariansbut due to defeats elsewhere was relinquished again. In 1652 the castle wasslightedto prevent any further use. The towers and walls were torn down and dumped into the moat.[1]
The last major structure collapsed in 1815.
Present day[edit]
The castle, which is now a national monument, was excavated in the 1960s and 1970s. It was maintained byEnglish Heritageuntil 1995 whenHeritage Lincolnshiretook charge. Much of the lower walls are still visible as are the ground floors of the towers.
In the summertime, the castle is home to numerous events including performances ofShakespeare.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abc"Bolingbroke Castle - a brief history".Archived fromthe originalon 22 June 2009.Retrieved29 May2009.
- ^abHistoric England."Bolingbroke Castle (354204)".Research records (formerly PastScape).Retrieved3 May2013.
- ^Brown & Summerson (2004)
- ^"Bolingbroke Castle to host open air Shakespeare show".Skegness Standard.22 June 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 7 January 2018.Retrieved6 May2013.
Sources[edit]
- Brown, A. L.; Summerson, Henry (2004). "Henry IV [known asHenry Bolingbroke] ".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12951.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- Matarasso, Francois (1995).The English Castle.London: Cassell. p.224.ISBN1-84067-230-7.
- Allen Brown, R; Colvin, H M; Taylor, A J (1963).The history of the King's Works: the Middle Ages.Vol. 2. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. pp. 571–2.
- Sylvanius Urban (1821)."Bolingbroke Castle".Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review.Vol. 91 part 2. London: John Harris & Son. p. 305.Retrieved3 May2013.
- Drewett P L; Freke D J (1974)."The Great Hall at Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire"(PDF).Notes and News.Medieval Archaeology.18:163–165.
- Thompson, M.W. (1966)."The Origins of Bolingbroke Castle"(PDF).Notes and News.Medieval Archaeology.10:152–158.
- —— (1969)."Further Work at Bolingbroke Castle"(PDF).Notes and News.Medieval Archaeology.13:216–217.
External links[edit]
- Friends of Bolingbroke Castle
- Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire: Bolingbroke Castle
- Friends of Bolingbroke castle."Bolingbroke Castle".Lincolnshire county council. Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2012.Retrieved6 May2013.