Gloucester Castles

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are no visible remains

NameGloucester Castles
Alternative Names
Historic CountryGloucestershire
Modern AuthorityGloucestershire
1974 AuthorityGloucestershire
Civil ParishGloucester

Castle documented in Domesday, where it is recorded that 16 houses were demolished to make room for it. The removal of a further 8 houses before 1100 probably marks the building of the castellum. It became a Royal Castle in 1155 and records of its maintenance occur regularly until the reign of Edward IV. Parts were used as a gaol until 1791 when it was demolished to make way for a new prison. (PastScape)

(SO 82751855) The keep or great tower of Gloucester Castle must have been erected by Domesday, where it is recorded that 16 houses were demolished to make room for it. The removal of a further 8 houses before 1100 probably marks the building of the castellum (Fullbrook Leggatt 1952).

It became a Royal Castle in 1155 and records of its maintenance occur regularly until the reign of Edward IV. After that the castle appears to have been neglected and no vestige of it now remains (HKW).

(SO 82791856) A square building shown on Hall and Pinnell's Map of 1780 probably represents a surviving part of the castle, possibly the keep, which was used as a gaol until 1791 when it was demolished to make way for a new prison (Lobel).

The original timber and earthwork castle lay slightly to the east of the later castle, between modern Barbican Road and Ladybellegate Street. The later castle can be reconstructed from documentary evidence and consisted of a great keep, a stout polygonal curtain wall and entrance gateway on the East side (Heighway 1985).

In 1990, three trenches were excavated on the site of the Magistrates Court, and locate the northern ditch of the Norman motte. A geophysical survey showed the motte ditch to be 50m in internal diameter. The bailey, to the east of the motte, was rectangular, being 111m x 90m, and closely followed the line of the Roman insulae. The ditches were about 6-8m wide (Aktin 1991). (PastScape)

May have been the site of an earlier Saxon stronghold (Baker and Holt 2004)

Gatehouse Comments

Gloucester is sometimes, with justification, considered as having two castles. The first, built soon after the Conquest was a timber and earthwork castle, built in the SW corner of the Roman walled town, using the surviving Roman wall, probably originally just as simple ditched enclosure but with a motte soon constructed over the Roman wall. The second, a stone castle, was built outside the Roman town wall, (This new castle is dated from early C12 by the VCH but otherwise dated from early C13), on an adjacent site west of the old castle. The old castle site was kept within the outer defences of the new castle but it seems most unlikely that any of the timber building remained in use. (comments 2015) Recent investigations (late 2015) found 'remains of a Norman castle similar to the Tower of London' (although elsewhere described as like Canterbury castle - there don't seem to be any evidence for an apse so not like the White Tower) under the prison yard, in the 'new' castle site. This building is estimated to have been 30m by 20m with wals about 4m thick. If the estimated date of 1120 is correct then the VCH is correct and the second castle (arguably, more accurately described as a castle extension) was constructed within a generation of the first.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO827185
Latitude51.8650817871094
Longitude-2.25071001052856
Eastings382750
Northings218550
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 115, 122, 187, 470
  • Blanchard, Ian, 2007, Twelth Century: A neglected Epoch in British Economic and Social History (Newlees E-book) p. 185-7 (plan) online copy
  • Baker, N. and Holt, R., 2004, Urban growth and the medieval church: Gloucester and Worcester (Aldershot) p. 19
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Gloucestershire and Bristol (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 20-21
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 79
  • Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p. 45, 57, 172, 356
  • < >Herbert, N.M., 1988, 'Bridges, gates, and walls' and 'Gloucester Castle' in Herbert, N.M. (ed), VCH Gloucestershire Vol. 4 (Oxford: OUP for the Institute of Historical Research) p. 242-7 < > online transcription
  • Drage, C., 1987, 'Urban castles' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report 61) p. 117-32 online copy
  • Carolyn Heighway, 1985, Gloucester: a history and guide p. 48-9
  • Garrod, A.P. and Heighway, C.M., 1984, Garrod's Gloucester: Archaeological observations 1974-81 (Bristol: Western Archaeological Trust)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 184
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 234
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 194
  • Lobel, M.D., 1969, 'Gloucester' in Lobel, M.D. (ed), Historic Towns: Maps and Plans of Towns and Cities in the British Isles, with Historical Commentaries, from Earliest Times to 1800 Vol. 1 (London: Lovell Johns-Cook, Hammond and Kell Organization) p. 1-14 online copy
  • Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol. 2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p. 651-56
  • Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol. 1: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p. 37
  • Fullbrook Leggatt, L.E.W.O., 1952, Anglo Saxon and Medieval Gloucester (Gloucester: John Jennings) p. 6-13
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 156-8 online copy
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 1 p. 374-5 online copy
  • Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol. 2 (London) p. 460-2 online copy
  • Fosbroke, 1819, Original History of the City of Gloucester (London) p. 72-8 (not very important)

Antiquarian

  • Speed, John, 1611-12, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain online copy
  • Camden, Wm, 1607, Britannia hypertext critical edition by Dana F. Sutton (2004)
  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England  (Sutton Publishing) p. 171, 188
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 3 p. 100 online copy

Journals

  • 2016 April, 'Norman castle remains found under Gloucester prison' Castle Studies Group Bulletin Vol. 21 p. 5 (news report)
  • Richard Nevell, 2014-15, 'Castles as prisons' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 28 p. 203-224
  • Howes, R., 2010, 'Gloucester Castle as a prison' Glevensis Vol. 43 p. 16-23 online copy
  • Parry, Charles and Reilly, Sarah, 1996, 'Proposed Magistrates' Court Site, Gloucester' Glevensis Vol. 29 p. 27-28 online copy
  • Harfield, C.G., 1991, 'A Hand-list of Castles Recorded in the Domesday Book' English Historical Review Vol. 106 p. 371-392 view online copy (subscription required)
  • Walker, D., 1991, 'Gloucestershire Castles' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 109 p. 5-23 online copy
  • Atkin, M., 1991 May, 'Gloucester's Norman castle rediscovered' Fortress: The castles and fortifications quarterly Vol. 9 p. 20-3
  • Atkin, M., 1991, 'Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucester 1990: An interim Report' Glevensis Vol. 25 p. 4-32 online copy
  • Darvill, T., 1988, 'Excavations on the site of the early Norman castle at Gloucester, 1983-84' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 32 p. 1-49 download copy
  • Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 143 p. 313
  • Garrod, P., 1986, 'Gloucester Castle: salvage brief' Glevensis Vol. 20 p. 28-29
  • Youngs, S.M., Clark, J. and Barry, T., 1986, 'Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1985' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 30 p. 135-6 download copy
  • Youngs, S.M., Clark, J. and Barry, T., 1985, 'Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1984' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 29 p. 172 download copy
  • < >Hurst, Henry, 1984, 'The Archaeology of Gloucester Castle: an Introduction' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 102 p. 73-128 online copy < >
  • 1983, Glevensis Vol. 17 p. 33 online copy
  • Rawes, B., 1977, 'A Check List of Castles and other Fortified Sites of Medieval Date in Gloucestershire' Glevensis Vol. 11 p. 39-41 online copy
  • Walker, D., 1976, 'Gloucester and Gloucestershire in Domesday Book' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 94 p. 111-12 online copy
  • King, D.J.Cathcart, 1972, 'The Field Archaeology of mottes; Eine kurze übersicht' Château Gaillard Vol. 5 p. 101-112
  • Brown, R. Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)
  • Brown, R. Allen, 1955, 'Royal Castle-building in England 1154-1216' English Historical Review Vol. 70 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press)) p. 19-64
  • Fullbrook-Leggatt, 1945, 'Medieval Gloucester: I' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 66 p. 6-9 online copy
  • Armitage, E., 1904 April, 'The Early Norman Castles of England' English Historical Review Vol. 19 p. 209-245, 417-455 esp. 231-2 online copy
  • Hope, W.H.St J., 1903, 'English Fortresses and Castles of the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 60 p. 85 online copy
  • Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 204 online copy

Guide Books

  • nd, Take One Castle Gloucester Castle (Gloucestershire Archives) online copy
  • Heighway, C.. 1985, Gloucester: a history and guide (Gloucester: Alan Sutton) p. 48-49

Primary Sources

  • 1086, Domesday Book online copy (See also Walker 1976)
  • Johnson, C. and Cronne, H.A. (eds), 1956, Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum, 1066–1154 Vol. 2 Regesta Henrici Primi 1100-1135 p. 44 no. 706 online copy
  • Ingram, James, (ed) 1912, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Everyman Press, London) Laud Chronicle AD1124 view online transcription (Ingram's translation and notes date from 1823. More recent translations of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles should be consulted for serious study)
  • Pipe Rolls 1129-30, 1158-9, 1172-4, 1180-90 (see Pipe Roll Society for published references)
  • Sewell, R.C. (ed), 1846, Gesta Stephani, Regis Anglorum et Ducis Normannorum p. 61 online copy (The newer edition and translation by Potter, K.R. (ed), 1976 (2edn), Gesta Stephani (Oxford University Press) should be consulted for serious study. See also Speight, S., 2000, 'Castle Warfare in the Gesta Stephani' , Château Gaillard Vol. 19 [see online transcription > http://web.archive.org/web/20101229213751/http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/articles/speight.htm])
  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 220-22
  • Evans, D.L. (ed), 1961, Calendar of Liberate Rolls Henry III (1260-1267) Vol. 5 p. 104 online copy (Payment for a garrison of 6 crossbowmen in 1262)
  • C145/114(9) (Survey of 1330) The National Archives reference (calendared in Maxwell Lyte, H.C., 1916, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 2 p. 286 No. 1166 [online copy > https://archive.org/stream/calendarofinqu02grea#page/286/mode/1up])
  • C145/134(10) (Survey of 1335) The National Archives reference (calendared in Maxwell Lyte, H.C., 1916, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 2 p. 390 No. 1590 [online copy > https://archive.org/stream/calendarofinqu02grea#page/390/mode/1up])
  • C145/139(2) (Survey of 1340) The National Archives reference (calendared in Maxwell Lyte, H.C., 1916, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 2 p. 415 No. 1685 [online copy > https://archive.org/stream/calendarofinqu02grea#page/415/mode/1up])
  • C145/153(16) (Survey of 1345) The National Archives reference (calendared in Maxwell Lyte, H.C., 1916, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 2 p. 486 No. 1941 [online copy > https://archive.org/stream/calendarofinqu02grea#page/486/mode/1up])
  • C145/175(1 ) (Survey of 1357) The National Archives reference (calendared in Stamp. A.E. (ed), 1937, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 3 p. 91 No. 252 [online copy > http://hdl.handle.net/2027/inu.30000095331645?urlappend=%3Bseq=103])
  • C145/182(6) (Survey of 1360) The National Archives reference (calendared in Stamp. A.E. (ed), 1937, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 3 p. 150 No. 420 [online copy > http://hdl.handle.net/2027/inu.30000095331645?urlappend=%3Bseq=162])
  • C47/14/6(12) (Survey of c. 1299) The National Archives reference
  • C47/2/21(11) (Survey of 31 Edward I) The National Archives reference
  • C62/46 m.4 (Sewn on) (Survey of 1270) The National Archives reference
  • E101/476/4 (Survey of 1328) The National Archives reference
  • SC6/1271/1(1) (Survey of 1266) The National Archives reference
  • SC6/1271/1(2) no. 6 (Survey of c. 1350) The National Archives reference

Other

  • Fradley, Michael, 2011, The Old in the New: Urban Castle Imposition in Anglo-Norman England, AD1050-1150 (University of Exeter PhD Thesis) available via EThOS