Stourton Castle
Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Other/Unknown), and also as a Possible Palace (Royal), and also as a Certain Fortified Manor House
There are masonry ruins/remnants remains
| Name | Stourton Castle |
| Alternative Names | Stewpony; Sturseley; Kinver |
| Historic Country | Staffordshire |
| Modern Authority | Staffordshire |
| 1974 Authority | Staffordshire |
| Civil Parish | Kinver |
Possibly originated as a hunting lodge in the time of William II, and referred to as the King's House during the reign of Henry II. Restored in 1184-96 and fortified in 1223. The present house incorporates some late medieval and C16 work , but the building was remodelled and rebuilt 1832-3 by James Foster. C19 main front incorporates a late medieval gate tower. The ranges to the south, north and east are C16 in date and once formed three sides of an open courtyard, roofed over as part of the 1832-3 remodelling. (PastScape)
Stourton Castle, home of the lords of Kinver. From 1184-96, the sheriff accounted for digging a ditch around the lodge, and rebuilding works. The latter included a timber hall, offices, gaol kitchen and gate. A palisade was added to the ditch, and fishponds dug. By 1222 it had become known as Stourton Castle, and it was fortified 1222-3. During the remodelling of 1832-3, the foundations of two round towers were uncovered some distance to the North-West, which may suggest a bailey or court. (PastScape ref. VCH)
Large house on the site of a medieval castle. The house incorporates some late Medieval and C16 works but was remodelled and partly rebuilt in 1832-33 in a late Gothic style by James Foster from designs by Sir Robert Smirke. Red brick; plain tile roofs with shaped gables; brick stacks. Main front of 1832-3 to the west, incorporating a late Medieval gate tower; C16 ranges to the north, south and east enclose the other 3 sides of a formerly open courtyard which was roofed over by Foster. West front: 2 storeys with moulded brick parapet band and plain parapet. 1:3:1 bays; central range recessed between flanking gabled wings, mullioned and transomed casements with raised surrounds, windows of central range have small gables over with psuedo-arrow slits matching those of the wings
Central 3 storey gate-tower with moulded off-sets and crenellated parapet; rendered and lined as ashlar; pointed entrance with moulded surround, second storey window has 2 trefoil-headed lights under a segmental pointed arch. In the re-entrant angles between central range and flanking wings are diagonally placed 2-storey bays with parapets and windows of 2 round-headed lights; the left hand bay has a 4-centred doorway. Interior: totally remodelled 1832-3. Plaster fan vaulted entrance with figure corbels; the courtyard is now an entrance hall with Tudor-style stone fireplace. (Listed Building Report)
Not scheduled
This is a Grade 2 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 Reference | SO859849 |
| Latitude | 52.4621315002441 |
| Longitude | -2.20875000953674 |
| Eastings | 385920 |
| Northings | 284920 |
