Odiham Castle
Encyclopedia
Odiham Castle is a ruined castle situated near Odiham
in Hampshire
, United Kingdom
. It is one of only three fortresses built by King John during his reign.
The site was possibly chosen by King John because he had visited the area in 1204 and it lay halfway between Windsor
and Winchester
.
.
The castle, which took seven years to complete, had a two-storey stone keep
and a square moat. There were also raised banking and palisades. Notably the stronghold also had a domus regis or 'king's house'.
Scrolls held in the public records office reveal that total expenditure between 1207 and 1214, when work ceased, amounted to £1,000 (equivalent of £11.4m in 2009).
that King John rode out to Runnymede
where met he met the barons and signed the Magna Carta
. A year later Odiham Castle was captured by the French after a two-week siege
during the First Barons' War
in 1216.
Odiham Castle might have become one of the most important strongholds in England. In 1238 Simon de Montfort
married King John's daughter Eleanor just two years after she had been granted Odiham by her brother, King Henry III
. However de Monfort rebelled against Henry and died at the Battle of Evesham
in 1265 and Eleanor was exiled. Odiham Castle was again retained by the Crown.
The castle was also involved in the rebellion led by the powerful Despenser family against Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella of France
, the wife of Edward II
.
During the fourteenth century Odiham hosted Parliament
. Scottish King David II
, after his capture at the Battle of Neville's Cross
in 1346, was also imprisoned here for 11 years. However he was held under light guard and was allowed to keep a household.
By the 15th century Odiham was now used only as a hunting-lodge. In 1605 the former royal castle was described as a ruin.
and outlying earthworks. In September 2007 Hampshire County Council
undertook a restoration of the shell keep under guidance from English Heritage
.
Odiham
Odiham is a historic village and large civil parish in the Hart district of Hampshire, England. It is twinned with Sourdeval in the Manche Department of France. The current population is 4,406. The parish contains an acreage of 7,354 acres with 50 acres of land covered with water. The nearest...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is one of only three fortresses built by King John during his reign.
The site was possibly chosen by King John because he had visited the area in 1204 and it lay halfway between Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
and Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
Construction
Odiham Castle was built on 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of land acquired from local lord, Robert the Parker; utilising a modified bend of the River WhitewaterRiver Whitewater
The River Whitewater rises at springs near Bidden Grange Farm between Upton Grey and Greywell. It flows northeast through Hampshire and is a tributary of the River Blackwater near Swallowfield. Its headwaters flow over chalk and there is little pollution making the River Whitewater rich in wildlife...
.
The castle, which took seven years to complete, had a two-storey stone keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
and a square moat. There were also raised banking and palisades. Notably the stronghold also had a domus regis or 'king's house'.
Scrolls held in the public records office reveal that total expenditure between 1207 and 1214, when work ceased, amounted to £1,000 (equivalent of £11.4m in 2009).
History
In 1215 it was from either Odiham or WindsorWindsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
that King John rode out to Runnymede
Runnymede
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is the site of a collection of memorials...
where met he met the barons and signed the Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
. A year later Odiham Castle was captured by the French after a two-week siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
during the First Barons' War
First Barons' War
The First Barons' War was a civil war in the Kingdom of England, between a group of rebellious barons—led by Robert Fitzwalter and supported by a French army under the future Louis VIII of France—and King John of England...
in 1216.
Odiham Castle might have become one of the most important strongholds in England. In 1238 Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
married King John's daughter Eleanor just two years after she had been granted Odiham by her brother, King Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. However de Monfort rebelled against Henry and died at the Battle of Evesham
Battle of Evesham
The Battle of Evesham was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by Prince Edward – later King Edward I – who led the forces of his father, King Henry III...
in 1265 and Eleanor was exiled. Odiham Castle was again retained by the Crown.
The castle was also involved in the rebellion led by the powerful Despenser family against Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella of France
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, the wife of Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
.
During the fourteenth century Odiham hosted Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. Scottish King David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
, after his capture at the Battle of Neville's Cross
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham, England on 17 October 1346.-Background:In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with France. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France appealed to David II of Scotland to attack the English from the north in...
in 1346, was also imprisoned here for 11 years. However he was held under light guard and was allowed to keep a household.
By the 15th century Odiham was now used only as a hunting-lodge. In 1605 the former royal castle was described as a ruin.
Present day
Odiham Castle is open to the public. The only visible remains are part of the octagonal keepKeep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
and outlying earthworks. In September 2007 Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Hampshire in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are district councils, and town and parish councils...
undertook a restoration of the shell keep under guidance from English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.