Stockport Castle facts for kids

Stockport Castle was an old castle built on a high point in Stockport, England. It stood in the medieval town, looking over a place where people could cross the River Mersey. The castle was first written about in 1173. However, by 1535, it was already in ruins. The last parts of the castle were taken down in 1775.

Where Was Stockport Castle?

Stockport Castle was a town castle right in the middle of Stockport. The old town was on the south side of a valley. This is where the Goyt and Tame rivers meet to form the River Mersey.

The castle was built on a sandstone hill about 10 meters (33 feet) high. This hill overlooked a shallow spot in the river where people could cross. Cliffs or very steep slopes protected the castle on its north, south, and west sides. This made it a very strong place to defend.

The Story of Stockport Castle

Early Days and Rebellions

The first time Stockport Castle is mentioned is in 1173. At that time, a local lord named Geoffrey de Costentyn held the castle. He was fighting against King Henry II during a big rebellion. This was part of the barons' rebellion of 1173–1174.

At first, the castle's outer area, called the bailey, was protected by wooden fences and earth mounds. But by the early 1200s, these wooden defenses were replaced with strong stone walls. You can still find two small pieces of these old walls today.

The Castle's Decline

Stockport Castle started to become less important in the 1300s. This happened when the Warren family became the main owners of the land, known as the Lords of the Manor of Stockport. The Warren family owned many other lands, and they liked their manor in Poynton more than Stockport.

This decline was common for castles in the Greater Manchester area. By the 1200s, most castles there were no longer actively used.

What Was Left?

By 1535, the castle was mostly in ruins. This was noted by an old writer named John Leland. Even though it was ruined, the castle's prison was still used. Also, a market was held in the castle's outer area, the bailey. The castle grounds had been divided up and rented out by the lord of the manor.

In 1775, the ruins were completely cleared away by Sir George Warren. He was the lord of the manor at the time. A cotton mill was then built on the castle's old site.

In 1974, people dug up parts of the castle mound, called the motte. They wanted to find out how long the castle had been used.

How Stockport Castle Was Built

Stockport Castle was a "motte-and-bailey" castle. This was a very common type of castle in medieval England.

What is a Motte-and-Bailey Castle?

A motte-and-bailey castle has two main parts:

• A motte is usually a tall, artificial hill. A tower or strong building called a keep would sit on top of it.
• A bailey is a large, protected area next to the mot motte. This area was used for storage, housing soldiers, and other buildings.

Stockport Castle's Layout

The motte of Stockport Castle was where a place called Castle Yard is today. This area used to be called Castle Hill, which shows its history. The bailey was located to the south-east of the motte.

Stockport Castle was probably similar in size and shape to other castles like Launceston in Cornwall and Pontefract in West Yorkshire. The keep on top of the motte was not a perfect shape. According to old plans from 1775, it measured about 31 by 60 meters (102 by 197 feet).

Today, there is no sign left of the keep. It was completely removed when the area was leveled in 1775 and again in 1853.