Northampton Castle
Northampton Castle was one of the most famous Norman castles in England. It was probably built by Simon I de Senlis , the first Earl of Northampton , from 1084 onwards. The construction took several years. In the Domesday Book of 1086 finds no mention. The castle complex was located outside the western city gate and was protected on three sides by deep trenches. A tributary of the Nene provided a natural barrier on the western side. The castle had a large keep and an extensive apron. The gates were protected with earth reinforcements. The castle was built over in the 19th century: the West Coast Main Line was built on the castle grounds in the 19th century, initially under the name Northampton Castle Station .
history
Early days
During the reign of Henry II , the castle was in the hands of the crown. In the civil wars between King John and his barons, the latter used it as a stronghold .
In 1164 Thomas Becket was indicted before the Grand Council at the castle . Disguised as a monk, Becket fled to France.
In 1264 the castle became the property of the federal barons and was ruled by Simon de Montfort . When the king defeated the garrison, the castle returned to the possession of the crown. Three years later, in the reign of King Edward III. , Thomas Wake, as sheriff of Blisworth , claimed the castle for his county.
In 1662, by order of the king, parts of the castle as well as the walls and gates of the city were razed. Until 1675, the remaining parts of the fortress served as a district prison.
Victorian era
Until 1879 the southern and western sides of the castle as well as part of a bastion on the south side, the former prison, stood.
The main line of the railway from London- Euston , the West Coast Main Line, ended about 10 km south of the city. In 1879 a loop of the line to Northampton was built over the remains of the castle. The only surviving parts of the building were a few earth walls next to St. Andrews Road and the relocated gate, a Minor Archway , on the main street opposite the stop.
The station was rebuilt in 1963-64 and the suffix 'Castle' removed.
21st century
A community of volunteers called Friends of Northampton Castle (FONC) was formed to maintain the castle and to keep information about the history of the place and castle. In July 2012, FONC commissioned a 3D reconstruction of the castle, which was published on YouTube.
literature
- Northampton Castle by Rev. RM Serjeantson, 1908
- An Hour Under the Echoes of Northampton Castle by Rev. PM Eastman, 1879
- Historic Monuments of Northampton Rev. CH Hartshorne, MA, 1883
Web links
- The Friends of Northampton Castle (English)
Coordinates: 52 ° 14 ′ 13.2 ″ N , 0 ° 54 ′ 18 ″ W.