Trowbridge Castle facts for kids
Trowbridge Castle was an old castle located in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. It was likely a type of castle called a motte-and-bailey. This means it had a big mound of earth (the motte) with a tower on top, and a walled courtyard (the bailey) below. Even though the castle is mostly gone, its history still shapes the town today. For example, Fore Street follows where the castle's ditch used to be. There's also a Castle Street and a Castle Place Shopping Centre in Trowbridge, named after the old castle!
Today, you can only see a few small parts of the castle. There's a ditch along Fore Street, and a tiny piece of a wall was found in 1986.
Contents
The Castle's Story
When Was it Built?
Historians believe Trowbridge Castle was probably built by a person named Humphrey I de Bohun. He likely finished it before he passed away around the year 1123. The very first time we read about Trowbridge Castle in old records was in 1139. This was when it was besieged, meaning an army surrounded it to try and take control.
The Castle Church
Inside Trowbridge Castle, there was an old Anglo-Saxon church from the 900s. Later, a man named Henry de Bohun decided to use this old church for other things. Instead, he had a brand new church built just outside the castle walls. This was the very first St James's Church. Today, you can still see its original tower as part of the current church building.
Why the Castle Disappeared
By the 1300s, Trowbridge Castle was no longer used as a fort to protect the town. When a famous traveler named John Leland visited in 1540, he wrote that the castle was already in ruins.
Later, in 1670, another writer named Aubrey mentioned it as a "ruined castle of the Dukes of Lancaster." Small pieces of pottery found from the 1600s suggest that the castle was completely abandoned around the year 1600. In 1875, a detailed plan of the castle was made, showing parts of the ditch, tower, and walls. However, today, the tower and most of the walls are gone.
Finding Clues: Excavations
- The first digs happened between 1902 and 1924 at a place called Court Street. Here, archaeologists found tombstones and burials from the 1100s, which were connected to the castle.
- In 1986, more digging uncovered a ruined wall from the Middle Ages. This wall was probably part of the castle's outer wall, making it one of the last remaining pieces of the old castle.
- In 1988, the old ditch along Fore Street was successfully found. Even though it's hard to see now, it's still there!
