Eccleshall Castle facts for kids
Eccleshall Castle is an old castle found in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, England. It was first built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. Today, it is a special historic site known as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade II* listed building.
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Building Eccleshall Castle
The land where Eccleshall Castle stands was once given to St Chad, a medieval bishop of Lichfield. In the year 1200, King John gave Bishop Geoffrey de Muschamp permission to build a castle. Eccleshall was a perfect spot because it was on a main road between important church towns like Chester, Lichfield, and Coventry. This made it a great base for the bishops. Later, in 1305, Bishop Walter Langton built an even larger castle on the same spot.
Castle in Times of War
Eccleshall Castle played a part in some big moments in English history.
The Wars of the Roses
During the Wars of the Roses, which were a series of fights for the English throne, Margaret of Anjou, who was the Queen of King Henry VI, found safety at the castle. This happened in 1459, after a battle called the Battle of Blore Heath.
The English Civil War
Much later, in June 1643, during the English Civil War, the castle faced a big attack. Sir William Brereton and his Parliamentary forces surrounded the castle. Their cannons caused a lot of damage to the walls. However, the castle bravely held out, with Bishop Robert Wright hiding inside.
When the Parliamentary forces finally took the castle on August 30, they found that the bishop had sadly died during the attack. Most of the castle's defenders had already left. To stop the castle from being used as a stronghold again, parts of it were destroyed. However, some of the building, including a unique nine-sided tower, the moat walls, and a medieval bridge, remained. These parts were even used as a prison for Royalist gentlemen. The castle and its land were taken away but later bought back by the church.
Later Life of the Castle
The house you see today, which is still called Eccleshall Castle, was built in 1693. It was put together among the old ruins by William Lloyd, who was a bishop at the time. He used pieces of the old 14th-century castle in the new building. Other bishops of Lichfield also lived there over the years.
The famous writer Walter Scott often stayed at the castle as a guest of Bishop James Cornwallis. In the 1700s, the old gatehouse was taken down, and the moat was drained. The last bishop to live in the house was John Lonsdale, who passed away there in 1867.
Eccleshall Castle Today
Today, Eccleshall Castle is owned by a private family and is not open to the public. However, sometimes the gardens are opened for special events like weddings or to raise money for local charities in Eccleshall. The Carter-Motley family has lived in the castle for over one hundred years.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Stafford (borough)
- Listed buildings in Eccleshall
