Rockingham Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockingham Castle |
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| Part of Northamptonshire | |
| Corby, England | |
The main gateway at Rockingham Castle
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| Type | Enclosure castle |
| Height | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Saunders Watson family |
| Condition | Renovated |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th Century |
| In use | Private |
| Materials | Limestone Sandstone |
| Events | English Civil War |
Rockingham Castle is an old royal castle and a special hunting lodge. It is located in Rockingham Forest, about two miles from Corby, Northamptonshire, England.
Contents
History of Rockingham Castle
Early Days: 11th to 14th Centuries
People have lived on the land where Rockingham Castle stands for a very long time. It was used by people in the Iron Age, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and later by Normans and Tudors. This spot is great because it's on high ground. This gives clear views of the Welland Valley, making it a strong place to defend.
After the Normans took over England, William the Conqueror built a wooden castle here in the 1000s. This was a "Motte and Bailey" castle, with a mound and a fenced area. About 30 years later, William II replaced it with a stronger stone castle. He added a stone tower on the mound and a strong wall around the outer area.
The castle then became a favorite place for kings to stay. Kings from the Norman and Plantagenet families used it as a royal retreat. The nearby Rockingham Forest was perfect for hunting wild boar and deer.
In 1095, an important meeting was held at the castle. It was about choosing church leaders. King William II and Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, were there. However, they could not agree on a solution.
In 1270, King Henry III made the castle even stronger. He added a special gatehouse with two D-shaped towers. But less than 100 years later, Edward III was the last king to visit the castle while it belonged to the Crown.
Later Years: 15th to 21st Centuries
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By the late 1400s, Rockingham Castle was starting to fall apart. Sir Edward Watson, who started the Watson family line, got to rent the castle from King Henry VIII. Later, parts of the old castle were replaced with a Tudor house and gardens. The former royal castle became a hunting lodge for important people.
Sir Edward Watson's grandson, Lewis Watson, later bought the castle and its lands from the Crown. Lewis Watson became a knight, then a baronet, and finally a baron.
In the 1640s, during the English Civil War, soldiers loyal to the King stayed at Rockingham. They fought several small battles with the Parliamentary forces. In 1643, a Parliamentarian general named Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford captured Rockingham. Lewis Watson had to leave for a short time. In 1646, the castle's remaining walls were partly destroyed so they could not be used for defense again.
After the war, in the late 1600s and 1700s, Rockingham went back to being a family home. Over the years, the castle was passed down through the Watson family. In 1925, it went to Sir Michael Culme-Seymour. He lived there with his wife, Lady Mary Faith Montagu, until 1967. Then, he passed it to his nephew, Commander Michael Saunders Watson.
Today, Rockingham Castle is still the home of the Saunders-Watson family. James Saunders Watson, Michael's son, now leads the family. The castle earns money from events and rentals. James Saunders Watson was the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 2018/19. He was also appointed Lord-lieutenant of Northamptonshire in 2020 and still holds that important role.
Castle Design
The castle has a very strong gatehouse, which was common for castles of its time. There are two large, round towers that stick out from the castle wall. These are on each side of the gate. They are also called D-towers because of their shape. This gatehouse is on the east side of the castle, facing a field.
The castle itself is shaped like a rectangle. There is a passage that goes through the middle of the gatehouse. You enter this passage through an archway. It used to be protected by a portcullis (a heavy gate that drops down) and a wooden door. Another door is at the end of the passage. Along the sides of the passage are openings that lead to rectangular rooms. The towers also have round rooms inside them. The gatehouse and its towers only have two floors. This design is similar to older Norman castles.
The rest of the castle is surrounded by stone walls. Inside these walls, there are many halls, living areas, and other buildings.
Castle Location
The castle is very close to the town of Corby. Both Rockingham and Corby are part of North Northamptonshire, which is in the county of Northamptonshire.
The castle looks out over the villages of Rockingham and Caldecott. It also has great views of the Welland Valley. The castle is privately owned, but it is open to the public for special events and on certain days.
The famous writer Charles Dickens visited the castle. He was a friend of Richard and Lavinia Watson, who were ancestors of the current family. Many people believe that Rockingham Castle was the inspiration for "Chesney Wold" in Dickens' novel Bleak House, which was published in 1853.
The castle gets its name from the "manor" of Rockingham. A manor was a large estate in old times. Rockingham Forest was named after the castle because the castle was so important as a royal retreat.
There is also a cricket pitch on the castle grounds. It is the home of the Old Eastonians Cricket Club.
Filming Location
Rockingham Castle has been used as a setting for movies and TV shows. It was a main location for the BBC English Civil War TV show By the Sword Divided. In the show, "Arnescote Castle" was the home of the Royalist Lacey family. The castle also appeared in the film Top Secret!, which starred Val Kilmer.
See Also
