Stafford Castle, Staffordshire
Photo © Giles Jones, 8 June 2006
Stafford Castle, Staffordshire
Photo © Giles Jones, 8
June 2006
Stafford Castle is the ruined remains of a 19th century recreation of a medieval castle in the town of Stafford in England. A castle was originally built on the site in 1100 by the Normans to control the still hostile and rebellious native community after their invasion in 1066. It was built in the classic motte and bailey style and the shape can still be seen today in the surrounding fields. It was originally a timber fortification upon an artificial hill and upgraded later by Earl Ralph in 1347 by building a massive stone keep.
In 1444, Humphrey Stafford was created Duke of Buckinghamshire and the castle reached its heyday.
Early on during the Civil War it was defended by Lady Isabel but was eventually abandoned and fell into decay.
The castle was rebuilt in the Gothic Revival Style in 1813, but was never completed and again fell into ruin in the 20th century. It is a Grade II listed building. It is open to visitors and visible from the M6 motorway.
During the Victorian era, the exterior was clad in red bricks. When the castle later fell into disrepair a child was killed playing in the castle. In 1963 builders were employed to "make the building safe", and destroyed large parts of the building before realising that behind the red brick was a Norman castle. Prior to this, Staffordshire historians appear to have lost large chunks of the county's history, and believed the Castle was merely a Victorian-era mansion.
Every summer events are performed in the grounds of the Castle.
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