Chesterton Castle | |
---|---|
Staffordshire, England | |
Site information | |
Type | Motte-and-bailey castle |
Site history | |
Built | Before 1180 |
Materials | Limestone |
Demolished | 16th century |
Chesterton Castle was a motte-and-bailey castle in Chesterton, Staffordshire, England which has no surviving remains existing today. [1]
Chesterton Castle was built probably atop the mound of a former Anglo-Saxon burh and it is known that the Earl of Leicester owned the timber castle in 1180. [3] Additions were made to the castle shortly before King John visited in 1206, [4] and it was later usurped by Newcastle-under-Lyme Castle when the town of the same name grew up around the castle during the early 12th century. [2]
King Henry III took the castle from the Earl of Leicester and gave it along with the Earldom to his son Edmund Crouchback in 1267. [3] [5] It was later rebuilt in stone. [6]
Sampson Erdeswicke visited Chesterton Castle in 1597 and mentioned that 'a little lower stands Chesterton, where are to be seen the ruins of a very ancient town or castle, there yet remaining some rubbish of lime and stone'. [6] The ruins were demolished during the 16th century and the site is today unknown. [2]
Chesterton Castle was built initially using timber but was later constructed using limestone. [6]