Frodsham Castle Park

Has been described as a Possible Masonry Castle

There are no visible remains

NameFrodsham Castle Park
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityCheshire
1974 AuthorityCheshire
Civil ParishFrodsham

The Norman castle at Frodsham was burnt down in 1654. The only remains are some foundations incorporated in the cellars of Castle Park - built on the site in 1721 (Ormerod). Mr. Hawkin confirmed that there are old walls in the cellars of Castle Park house. There is no trace of earthworks or of natural defences (Field Investigators Comments–F1 TPW 16-JUN-64). Listed by Cathcart King as a vanished castle. It is mentioned in 1355 when its tower needed repairing. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

It was, apparently recorded as being, owned by David ap Gruffydd in 1282. Hogg & King rejected this as the site of the Norman castle as Buck's print, of some kind of tower, shows it standing on high ground. However, the castle on high ground is Halton Castle, in the background and the other side of the river from Frodsham castle. Buck's print is not particularly informative about Frodsham castle, seems to put Frodsham village on the other side of the River Weaver, clearly has much artistic licence and is difficult to interpret.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSJ513775
Latitude53.2926216125488
Longitude-2.73083996772766
Eastings351380
Northings377540
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

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.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Swallow, Rachel, forthcoming (2015), 'What law says that there has to be a castle? : The castle landscape of Frodsham, Cheshire' in Hausmair, B., Jervis, B., Nugent, R. & Williams, E. (eds.) Archaeologies of Rules and Regulations: Between Text and Practice (Manchester: Manchester University Press)
  • Grimsditch, Brian, Nevell, Michael and Nevell, Richard, 2012, Buckton Castle and the Castles of the North West England (University of Salford Archaeological Monograph 2) p. 107
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, Index and Amendments to Mike Salter's English Castles Books (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 10
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 18
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 17 (slight)
  • Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p. 10-11
  • Frodsham Local History Group, 1985, Discovering Old Frodsham p. 6
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 68
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 234
  • Thompson, P., 1980, Frodsham - The Archaeological Potential of a Town p. 5-6
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 193
  • Sylvester, D., 1971, A History of Chester (Henley on Thames) p. 32
  • Ridgway, Maurice Hill, 1958, 'Medieval Castles' in Sylvester, D. and Nulty, G. (eds), The Historical Atlas of Cheshire (Cheshire Community Council) p. 24-5
  • 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. 2 p. 172-3 online copy
  • Ormerod, G., 1882 (2edn), History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 53
  • Ormerod, G., 1819, History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 2 p. 30-32 (tenurial history) online copy
  • Buck, Samuel and Nathaniel, 1774, Buck's Antiquities (London) Vol. 1 p. 19

Antiquarian

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1970, 'Castles in Wales and the Marches (Additions and corrections to lists published in 1963 and 1967)' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 119 p. 119-124
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124 (possible)

Primary Sources

  • Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1930-33, Register of Edward the Black Prince (HMSO) Vol. 3. p. 209 (1355)
  • SC12/22/96 (Survey of 11 Edward III) The National Archives reference