Huntingdon Castle facts for kids

Huntingdon Castle was an important castle located in the town of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, England. It stood on a hill overlooking the town and played a role in many historical events. Today, only the earthworks, or the shapes of the land where the castle once stood, can still be seen.

Building the Castle

In 1068, a special type of castle called a motte and bailey castle was built here for William the Conqueror. This was just two years after he became King of England.

What is a Motte and Bailey Castle?

A motte and bailey castle was one of the earliest types of castles built by the Normans. It had two main parts:

• A motte was a large, steep mound of earth. A wooden tower or keep was built on top of this mound.
• A bailey was a large, enclosed courtyard at the base of the motte. It was protected by a wooden fence or wall and a ditch. People lived and worked inside the bailey.

A Time of Trouble

The castle became very important during a period of civil war in England known as the Anarchy. This was a fight for the throne between Empress Matilda and King Stephen.

Scottish Control

During this time, David, King of Scotland, gained control of Huntingdon Castle. He was married to Maud, 2nd Countess of Huntingdon, which gave him a claim to the area. King David supported Empress Matilda in her fight to become queen.

Because of this conflict, Huntingdon Castle was badly damaged. However, once the fighting settled down, King Stephen made a deal. David's son, Henry, showed his loyalty to King Stephen. In return, King Stephen gave Henry the town of Huntingdon and the castle.

The Great Siege

By 1173, the castle was still held by the Scottish kings. At this time, William the Lion, who was King of Scotland, held the castle.

A Royal Rebellion

William the Lion decided to side with Henry, who was the rebellious son of King Henry II. This led to a major conflict known as the Revolt of 1173–1174.

King Henry II's forces, led by Richard de Luci, began to attack Huntingdon Castle. This was called a siege, where an army surrounds a castle to try and force those inside to surrender. The siege was later taken over by Simon de St. Lis.

Castle Dismantled

The siege finally ended when King Henry II himself arrived at Huntingdon. He had just returned from a special trip to the tomb of Thomas Becket. The very next day, the siege ended. King Henry II then gave a very important order: Huntingdon Castle was to be dismantled. This meant it was to be taken apart so it could no longer be used as a fortress against him.

What Remains Today

Even after being dismantled, some parts of the castle remained, including its chapel. Over the years, the castle site changed hands many times.

During the English Civil War, which happened much later, parts of the castle were refortified, meaning they were strengthened again for defense. For a while, the castle even served as the county prison, known as a gaol. Later, a windmill was built on the castle mound.

Today, nothing of the castle buildings remains above ground. However, the earthworks, which are the mounds and ditches that formed the castle's shape, are still visible. The site is protected as a scheduled ancient monument, which means it's an important historical place.

Images for kids

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  The mound where Huntingdon Castle once stood.