Stockport Castle

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

There are masonry footings remains

NameStockport Castle
Alternative NamesStoppord; Stokeporta
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityStockport
1974 AuthorityGreater Manchester
Civil ParishStockport

Stockport Castle is first mentioned in 1173 when Geoffrey de Costentyn held it against his father, Henry II. In 1537, two parcels of land were granted by the lord of the manor to expand the Market Place. Leland visited the town between 1535 and 1543, noting that the castle was decayed. in 1642, Stockport was one of several Cheshire fortifications which both parties (Royalists and Parliamentarians) agreed to demolish, although it is unlikely that it was garrisoned. Prince Rupert took the town on 05-May-1644, apparently without any problems, during his march to the relief of York. The castle area was finally demolished in 1775 by Sir George Warren. A plan showing the castle's position was created in 1680, and one of the walls was created in 1775 by the Rev. John Watson. From these, it is inferred that the bailey was similar to that at Pontefract and Launceston. Thomas Kay, writing in 1896, thought that remains he had identified were those of a putative town wall, but recent studies rather suggest that they are revetment for the bailey. These are extant at 7 Mealhouse Brow and behind 11 and 13 Great Underbank. The castle probably fell into disuse in the C14, although a 'Bastille room' or castle gaol was still in use in 1537. Excavations have failed to locate any trace of the bailey. (PastScape–ref. Dent)

Gatehouse Comments

Dent (1977) writes, that "the nature of the motte defences is not clear." Based on a plan of the walls made in 1775 Dent suggest a large tower on the motte similar to Pontefract (but twice the size). It seems incredible that a castle of a minor lord could be of such a size. An alternative suggestion would the entire castle, including bailey and ancillary buildings was on the motte and that the town lay in the area Dent suggests as the castle bailey.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSJ897905
Latitude53.413459777832
Longitude-2.15680003166199
Eastings389700
Northings390500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • 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. 113
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 21
  • Cullen, P.W. and Hordern, R., 1986, Castles of Cheshire (Crossbow Books) p. 12
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 69
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 316
  • 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. 181 online copy
  • Ormerod, G., 1882 (2edn), History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 3 p. 788
  • Heginbotham, H., 1882, Stockport Ancient and Modern Vol. 1 p. 12, 41
  • Ormerod, G., 1819, History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 3 p. 383- (tenurial history) online copy
  • Watson, 1782, Memoirs of the Ancient Earls of Warren and Surrey (Warrington) Vol. 2 p. 190-5

Antiquarian

  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England  (Sutton Publishing) p. 55
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1964, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Centaur Press) Vol. 5 p. 24

Journals

  • Richard Nevell, 2014-15, 'Castles as prisons' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 28 p. 203-224
  • Dent, J.S., 1977, 'Recent excavations on the site of Stockport Castle' Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society Vol. 79 p. 1-13
  • 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)

Primary Sources

  • Stubbs, Wm. (ed), 1867, Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi Benedicti Abbatis; Chronicle of the Reigns of Henry II and Richard I. A.D. 1169-1192 (London: Rolls Series 49) Vol. 1 p. 48 online copy