Maurice de Gaunt facts for kids
Maurice de Gaunt (born before 1200, died 1230) was an important person in early 13th-century England. He is best known for starting the building of Beverston Castle in Gloucestershire, England. He also helped create a hospital in Bristol.
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Building Beverston Castle
Maurice de Gaunt began building Beverston Castle around the year 1225. At first, he started construction without official permission from the king. This permission was called a "royal licence."
Castle Completion and Features
By 1229, Maurice de Gaunt received the king's approval. This allowed him to finish the castle, including adding its battlements. Battlements are the protective walls with gaps that you see on top of castles, used for defense.
Castle's Later History
Beverston Castle was made even bigger in the mid-1300s. It also played a role in the English Civil War much later. Today, parts of the castle are in ruin, but people still live there as of 2006.
Maurice de Gaunt's Family
Maurice de Gaunt was the grandson of a man named Robert Fitzharding. Robert Fitzharding was famous for founding St Augustine's Abbey. This abbey later became the well-known Bristol Cathedral.
Founding St Mark's Hospital
Maurice de Gaunt also helped establish St Mark's Hospital in Bristol. He founded it along with his nephew, Robert de Gournay. This hospital was also known as Gaunt's Hospital.
Hospital's Legacy
The church that was part of St Mark's Hospital eventually became known as the Lord Mayor's Chapel. This shows the lasting impact of Maurice de Gaunt's work in Bristol.
See also
- Beverston
- History of Gloucestershire
