Castlefacts³

Harwich Castle

Has been described as a Certain Masonry Castle, and also as a Certain Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

Name	Harwich Castle
Alternative Names	Herewiche
Historic Country	Essex
Modern Authority	Essex
1974 Authority	Essex
Civil Parish	Harwich

The murage tolls granted by Richard II (1377-99) were intended both for wall-building and the erection of a castle at the north-east corner of the town. Following a protest by Ipswich the murage grant was revoked, but the castle seems to have been built anyway, for Henry V (1399-1413) granted permission to the town to levy tolls for its repair. The sixteenth and C17 maps depict the castle as a tower on the north-eastern corner of the town wall. (Unlocking Essex's Past–Ref. Weaver)

Gatehouse Comments

Given the status of Harwich as base for formation of medieval fleets this tower probably had a function as a storehouse and administrative centre and was more than just a large town wall tower. However, as it was owned by the town and was on the line of the town defences it could be considered as an urban defence.Gatehouse can not find a permission to levy tolls granted to Harwich by Henry V in either the patent or close rolls. Murage grants are referenced in Harwich Town Defences which should also be consulted for full bibliography.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/uep/custom_pages/monument_detail.asp?content_page_id=68&previous_page_id=48&monument_id=12288

OS Map Grid Reference	TM259328
Latitude	51.9482192993164
Longitude	1.28707003593445
Eastings	625990
Northings	232870