Hereford Cathedral Close, siege castle

Has been described as a Certain Siege Work

There are no visible remains

NameHereford Cathedral Close, siege castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishHereford

Earthworks throw up around cathedral (reportedly exposing the putrefied corpses from the churchyard) to turn Cathedral into a castle to besiege the royal Hereford castle close in 1140. Cathedral remains but earthworks long gone.

Entering the church of the Mother of God, the Cathedral Church of the episcopal see, and impiously driving out ministrants at God's table, he recklessly brought in a throng of armed men. The townspeople were disturbed, both because the graves of the newly dead were dug to provide earth for ramparts and because at one time it was visible that catapults were being put up on the tower from which they had heard the sweet and pacific admonition of the bells, at another that missiles were being shot from it to harm the King's garrison {in the castle}. (Goodall, 2011, ref. Potter Gesta Stephani )

Gatehouse Comments

A research project, lead by Professor Oliver Creighton, is examining, in detail, the sieges of the Anarchy and should through more light on the historical sources and surviving archaeological remains. The results of this project are due to be published in 2016. (See University of Exeter website)

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO510397
Latitude52.0542602539063
Longitude-2.71603989601135
Eastings351000
Northings239700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 162
  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 97
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 36
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 212
  • Shoesmith, Ron, 1980, Hereford City Excavations - Vol. 1: Excavations at Castle Green (CBA Research Report 36) online copy
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 205

Journals

  • Speight, Sarah, 2000, 'Castle Warfare in the Gesta Stehani' _Château Gaillard_ l. 19 p. 269-274
  • Speight, Sarah, 1999-2000, 'Churches as Castles: the misuse of religious buildings during the reign of Stephen' Castle Studies Group Newsletter No. 13 p. 11-12 online copy
  • 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
  • Heys, F.G. and Norwood, J.F.L., 1958, 'Excavations on the supposed line of the King's Ditch Hereford 1958' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 36.1 p. 117-25

Guide Books

  • Shoesmith, R., 1980, A short history of Castle Green and Hereford Castle (Hereford)

Primary Sources

  • 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])