Nottingham Castle

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

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameNottingham Castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryNottinghamshire
Modern AuthorityNottingham; City of
1974 AuthorityNottinghamshire
Civil ParishNottingham

Medieval motte and bailey castle. Built in 1068, excavations indicate that it was strengthed with a curtain wall 1184-7 and that a round tower was constructed circa 1250. It became one of the four principal English castles, and the main castle in the North Midlands. Extensive restoration was carried out from 1560-70 but it fell into disrepair during the reign of James 1 (1603-25). In 1651 all fortifications were demolished bar the gatehouse and the base of Edward IVs tower, and the site was cleared in 1674. A mansion was built on the site and is now used as a museum and art gallery. It is believed to be on the site of a possible Iron Age promontory fort. Scheduled. (PastScape)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK569395
Latitude52.950569152832
Longitude-1.15389001369476
Eastings456900
Northings339500
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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Latitude 52° 56' 58.7" Longitude -1° 9' 16.42"

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Books

  • Roffe, David, 2015, 'Tale of Two Towns and Two Castles: Nottingham and Wallingford Compared' in Keats-Rohan K.S.B., Christie, Neil, and David Roffe (eds), Wallingford: The Castle and the Town in Context (Oxford: Archaeopress BAR British series 621) p. 194-199
  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) passim
  • Purton, P.F., 2009, A History of the Early Medieval Siege c. 450-1220 (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press) p. 320 (1194 siege)
  • Wright, James, 2008, Castles of Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire County Council) p. 69
  • Thurley, Simon, 2004, Lost Buildings of Britain (Viking)
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 92-6
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 288
  • Drage, C.J., 1999 (2edn; 1edn pub 1990), Nottingham Castle: A Place Full Royal (Nottingham: Nottingham Civic Society and The Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire)
  • Hamilton, A., 1999, Nottingham's Royal Castle and Ducal Palace (Nottingham Civic Society)
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 202
  • Thurley, Simon, 1993, The Royal Palaces of Tudor England (Yale University Press) p. 4, 10, 18, 19, 23, 35, 74
  • Smith, Michael E., 1992, Castles and Manor Houses in and around Derbyshire (Derby)
  • 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
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 380-1
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 269
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus; revised by Elizabeth Williamson, 1979, Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire (London) p. 130-1
  • Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1975, The history of the King's Works Vol. 3: 1485-1660 (part 1) (London) p. 283-6
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 262
  • 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. 755-65
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 176-8 online copy
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Stevenson, W., 1906, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Nottinghamshire Vol. 1 p. 291-3 online copy
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 1 p. 454-9 online copy
  • Clark, G.T., 1884, Mediaeval Military Architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol. 2 p. 336 online copy
  • Brown, c. 1878, Historical Sketch of Nottingham Castle (Nottingham)
  • Hine, 1876, Nottingham, its Castle etc. (London)
  • Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol. 3 (London) p. 33-6 online copy

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. 355-6
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1907, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 1 p. 95-6 online copy
  • Celia Fiennes, 1888, Through England on a Side Saddle in the Time of William and Mary (London: Field and Tuer, The Leadenhall Press) Vision of Britain online transcription

Journals

  • 2015 Sept, 'Nottingham Castle' Castle Studies Group Bulletin Vol. 20 p. 14 (news report of archaeological investigation)
  • Speight, Sarah, 2008, ''Castles as Past Culture: Living with Castles in the Post-Medieval World' Cha^teau Gaillard Vol. 23 p. 385-94
  • Marshall, P., 2006, 'Three urban castles and their communities in the east midlands: Lincoln, Nottingham and Newark' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 259-65
  • Foulds, T., 2004, ' 'Old road into the park': Nottingham Castle, Stamford Hill and William Stretton' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 108 p. 125-42
  • Kinsley, Gavin, 2003, 'Recent Archaeological Work on the Medieval Castle at Nottingham' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 107 p. 83-94
  • Foulds, Trevor, 1991, 'The siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 95 p. 20-28 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)
  • Drage, C.J., 1989, 'Nottingham Castle: A Place Full Royal' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 93 (entire volume)
  • Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 143 p. 314
  • Drage, C.J., 1983, 'Nottingham Castle' Château Gaillard Vol. 11 p. 117–27
  • Youngs, S.M. and Clark, J., 1982, 'Medieval Britain in 1981' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 26 p. 202-3 download copy
  • Drage, C.J., 1981, 'Nottingham Castle: the gatehouse of the outer bailey' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 85 p. 48-55
  • Drage, C.J., 1979-80, 'Nottingham Castle' CBA Newsletter and Calendar Vol. 3 p. 136
  • Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1979, 'Medieval Britain in 1978' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 23 p. 262 download copy
  • MacCormick, A., 1978, 'Recent Archaeological work in Nottingham' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vo82 p. 74-5
  • Young, C.S.B., 1978, 'Nottingham' East Midlands Archaeological Bulletin Vol. 12 p. 44-6
  • Drage, C.J., 1978, 'Nottingham Castle' East Midlands Archaeological Bulletin Vol. 12 p. 46
  • Drage, C.J., 1978, 'Excavations at Nottingham Castle, 1976-8; an interim report' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 82 p. 72-3
  • Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1978, 'Medieval Britain in 1977' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 22 p. 169 download copy
  • Drage, C.J., 1977-8, 'Nottingham Castle' CBA Newsletter and Calendar Vol. 1 p. 116
  • Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1977, 'Medieval Britain in 1976' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 21 p. 235, 238 download copy
  • Renn, D.F., 1964, 'The first Norman Castles in England 1051-1071' Château Gaillard Vol. 1 p. 125-132
  • 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
  • Gregory, F.W.C., 1944, 'The plan of the medieval castle at Nottingham' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 48 p. 1-31
  • 1937, Thoroton Society, Excavation Section Vol. 1 p. 6-11
  • Dobson, F.W., 1909, 'Nottingham Castle. Recent Explorations and some Historical Notes' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 13
  • 1904, Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 8 p. 39-41 online copy
  • Dobson, F.W., 1904 July 18, Nottinghamshire Guardian
  • Dobson, F.W., 1903 Oct 31, Nottinghamshire Guardian
  • Hope, W.H.St J., 1903, 'English Fortresses and Castles of the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 60 p. 87 online copy
  • Green, Emanuel, 1901 Dec, 'A History of Nottingham Castle' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 58 p. 365-97 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. 210 online copy
  • Hine, 1887, Association of Architectural Societies Vol. 19 p. 32-42
  • Hine, 1864, Association of Architectural Societies Vol. 7 p. 186-94

Guide Books

  • Sheffield, J., 1984, Nottingham Castle (Privately published)
  • Hamilton, A., 1980, Nottingham's royal castle (Nottingham: Nottingham Civic Society)
  • Briscoe and Lever, 1888, Nottingham Castle (Nottingham)
  • Gill, Harry, 1904, A Short History of Nottingham Castle online transcription

Primary Sources

  • 1086, Domesday Book online copy
  • Ingram, James, (ed) 1912, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Everyman Press, London) Worcester Chronicle AD1067 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)
  • le Prevost, A. (ed), 1840, Orderici Vitalis, Historiae Ecclesiaticae Vol. 2 p. 184, 185 online copy
  • Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1833, Rotuli litterarum clausarum in turri Londinensi asservati (Record Commission) Vol. 1 p. 153 online copy
  • Cole, H. (ed), 1844, Document illustrative of English history in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries (London) p. 235 online copy
  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 380-2
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1907, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry VI (1436-41) Vol. 3 p. 121 (Commission to repair) online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1908, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry VI (1441-46) Vol. 4 p. online copy
  • C145/68(26) (Survey of 1308) 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. 7 No. 26 [online copy > https://archive.org/stream/calendarofinqu02grea#page/7/mode/1up])
  • C145/101(12) (Survey of 1326) 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. No. [online copy > https://archive.org/stream/calendarofinqu02grea#page/220/mode/1up])
  • Belvoir Castle archives (Survey of 1591)
  • E101/477/18 (Survey of 27 Edward I) The National Archives reference
  • E178/1783 (Survey of 17 Elizabeth) The National Archives reference
  • SC11/12 (Survey of 16 Henry VIII) The National Archives reference
  • SP14/49/82 (Survey of 1609) 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
  • Creighton, O.H., 1998, Castles and Landscapes: An Archaeological Survey of Yorkshire and the East Midlands (PhD Thesis University of Leicester) p. 189-92, 486-7 online copy