Cainhoe Castle
Encyclopedia
Cainhoe Castle was an 11th century Norman
castle, located near the village of Clophill
, in the county of Bedfordshire
, England
.
Cainhoe Castle was a motte and triple bailey castle, built by Nigel d'Aubigny, a Norman
Knight, sometime after the Norman Invasion
(1066). It was not mentioned in the Domesday Book
of 1086;
"Cainou: Nigel d'Aubigny; Thurstan from Avelina, Ralph Tailbois' wife. Mill."
The d'Aubigny family, known for being deeply involved in the crusades
, used the castle as the seat of the Barony of Cainhoe. The castle was to stay in the d'Aubigny family until the death of Simon d'Aubigny, who died without a male heir, in 1272. It then passed to the de Lacy
s and the Nortons, and then on to the Greys, Earls of Kent
.
The castle was occupied until the time of the Black Death
(1348), when all the inhabitants died of the disease. The castle, and the small village that had built up around it, were discovered abandoned sometime later.
By 1374 the castle was in ruins. The site was excavated in 1973, 1985 and 1986. Only earthworks
remain. The site is a Scheduled Monument.
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
castle, located near the village of Clophill
Clophill
Clophill, is a small village and civil parish located in the Flit river valley, Bedfordshire, England. At this time the village belonged to a group of two or three hamlets – Beadlow, Cainhoe and possibly Moddry.It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Clopelle; meaning tree-stump Hill in old...
, in the county of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Cainhoe Castle was a motte and triple bailey castle, built by Nigel d'Aubigny, a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Knight, sometime after the Norman Invasion
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
(1066). It was not mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086;
"Cainou: Nigel d'Aubigny; Thurstan from Avelina, Ralph Tailbois' wife. Mill."
The d'Aubigny family, known for being deeply involved in the crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
, used the castle as the seat of the Barony of Cainhoe. The castle was to stay in the d'Aubigny family until the death of Simon d'Aubigny, who died without a male heir, in 1272. It then passed to the de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
s and the Nortons, and then on to the Greys, Earls of Kent
Earl of Kent
The peerage title Earl of Kent has been created eight times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.See also Kingdom of Kent, Duke of Kent.-Earls of Kent, first creation :*Godwin, Earl of Wessex...
.
The castle was occupied until the time of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
(1348), when all the inhabitants died of the disease. The castle, and the small village that had built up around it, were discovered abandoned sometime later.
By 1374 the castle was in ruins. The site was excavated in 1973, 1985 and 1986. Only earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
remain. The site is a Scheduled Monument.