Laxton Castle
Encyclopedia
Laxton Castle is a late-11th or early-12th century medieval castle located north of the village of Laxton
in Nottinghamshire
, England
. According to an early 20th-century report by the British Archaeological Association
, the site is notable not only as "the most striking specimen of a mount and court stronghold" in the area, but also for "the nearly perfect condition of its two courts", which made of it a valuable resource for study. The remaining earthworks
and masonry
ruins have since 2003 been the subject of study of archaeologists at Birmingham University and the University of Nottingham
. The property on which the ruins rest was also the site of a 16th century manor house known as Laxton Hall.
castle first built on the spot seems to have been constructed very soon after the Norman Invasion
, perhaps under order of Geoffrey Alselin who was granted the property in 1066, though more likely under order of Alselin's son-in-law, Robert de Caux, who used Laxton as his seat after Alselin's death. The construction of the inner courtyard, or Bailey, is common for smaller earthwork castles of Norman construction. The second wave of construction of the castle may have followed the appointment of du Caux to Hereditary Keeper of the Royal Forests of Nottingham and Derbyshire, although the extent of renovations undertaken by King John
, who seized the castle for several years in 1204, is unknown. In 1230, the property and title passed to the Everingham family until they were stripped of the title in 1286; the property found insufficient to sustain the family further, they left it for other property in Yorkshire
. The castle subsequently fell into disrepair.
The British Archaeological Association spotlighted the castle's defenses, noting:
, whose family retained it until 1952, when it was sold to the Ministry of Agriculture
. In 1981, it was purchased by the Crown Estate Commissioners.
Laxton, Nottinghamshire
Laxton is a small village in the civil parish of Laxton and Moorhouse in the English county of Nottinghamshire, situated about 25 miles northeast of Nottingham city centre....
in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, 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...
. According to an early 20th-century report by the British Archaeological Association
British Archaeological Association
The British Archaeological Association was founded in 1843; it was established by Charles Roach Smith. It is aimed at the promotion of the studies of archaeology, art and architecture and the preservation of antiquities. After disagreements arose, it was split into two organizations, the newer one...
, the site is notable not only as "the most striking specimen of a mount and court stronghold" in the area, but also for "the nearly perfect condition of its two courts", which made of it a valuable resource for study. The remaining 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...
and masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
ruins have since 2003 been the subject of study of archaeologists at Birmingham University and the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
. The property on which the ruins rest was also the site of a 16th century manor house known as Laxton Hall.
Medieval castle
The Motte-and-baileyMotte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
castle first built on the spot seems to have been constructed very soon 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...
, perhaps under order of Geoffrey Alselin who was granted the property in 1066, though more likely under order of Alselin's son-in-law, Robert de Caux, who used Laxton as his seat after Alselin's death. The construction of the inner courtyard, or Bailey, is common for smaller earthwork castles of Norman construction. The second wave of construction of the castle may have followed the appointment of du Caux to Hereditary Keeper of the Royal Forests of Nottingham and Derbyshire, although the extent of renovations undertaken by King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, who seized the castle for several years in 1204, is unknown. In 1230, the property and title passed to the Everingham family until they were stripped of the title in 1286; the property found insufficient to sustain the family further, they left it for other property in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. The castle subsequently fell into disrepair.
The British Archaeological Association spotlighted the castle's defenses, noting:
The greatness of the outer court, the formidable character of the defences of the base court, the placement of the keep-mount on the edge of the steep natural escarpment on the northern side, and the evidence of the guarded track ways to the place, all tend to show the importance of Laxton Castle in the fighting days of its early existence, when feudal lords cared only for what they could get and hold, and had little thought for the rights of their neighbours.
Laxton Hall
In 1408, the Roos family acquired the property, The castle was already in ruins by the 16th century when the family constructed a three-gabled brick manor house there, dubbed "Laxton Hall." In the 17th and 18th centuries, the property frequently changed hands before coming in 1788 to Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl ManversCharles Pierrepont, 1st Earl Manvers
Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl Manvers was an English nobleman and naval officer, born Charles Medows, the second son of Philip Medows, deputy ranger of Richmond Park, and Lady Frances, daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull.Educated at Oxford, he became a midshipman in the...
, whose family retained it until 1952, when it was sold to the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
. In 1981, it was purchased by the Crown Estate Commissioners.