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Summary

Medieval castle with a long history; later treated as a Picturesque garden feature

Images

No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council	No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council
No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council	No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council
No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council	No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council
No image caption available © Hertfordshire County Council

Monument Types

• CASTLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• MOTTE AND BAILEY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• GARDEN FEATURE (Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN
• SHERD
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Medium quantity) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1500 AD)
• FLOOR TILE (6-10) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1500 AD)
• FLUTE (1) (Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Events

• Excavation at the Express Dairy, Hertford
• Excavation at 12-14 Parliament Square, Hertford
• Geophysical survey at Hertford Castle
• Recording of part of the curtain wall of Hertford Castle (Ref: AS 941)

Protected Status

• Scheduled Ancient Monument 20629: HERTFORD CASTLE: A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE SOUTH OF THE RIVER LEA

Full description

Hertford Castle was probably constructed soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte-and-bailey. A possible ditch around the motte located by geophysical survey may belong to this phase <5>, but there is no other archaeological evidence for an 11C castle.
The earliest reference to the Castle is in 1141<1>. In 1170, there are records of extensive building works begun by Henry II, which included the curtain wall, at least one of the ditches and probably the outer bailey to the south west. The castle was garrisoned in 1174. In 1215 Hertford Castle was held by the Barons for a year, but surrendered to King Louis and an army of French mercenaries supporting King John. Further renovations were carried out in 1225, 1300-2 and 1360. In the 14C, David Bruce, King of Scotland and John, King of France were held prisoner at the Castle <2>.
The brick gatehouse was built in 1460 by Edward IV. Henry VIII visited on a number of occasions; Elizabeth I moved the law courts to Hertford from London in 1563, 1581 and 1592, due to plague outbreaks. Most of the buildings within the castle were pulled down by James I in the later 16C.
Surviving remains comprise a flat-topped motte 30m in diameter and 6.5m high, a 15C gatehouse (with 18C-20C additions); a curtain wall; remains of 14C octagonal tower & postern gate at the SW angle; and broad outer ditch <3>.
Excavations in 1988 and 1990 confirmed the existence of the outer ward or bailey <4, 7>. This had a 12C-14C cobbled surface and the foundations of several buildings, probably constructed at the same time as the Gatehouse in 1460. A cellar was found at the SW end of the outer bailey, probably part of a postern tower of the 15C defences. A large 14C-15C deposit of food refuse, probably from feasting, included deer, fish, wild and domestic birds, and oyster. Other finds include a penny of Edward II (1317-20), a 15C French crown-type jetton, and a flute or recorder made from a pig tibia <4, 7>. <10> lists a medieval jug from an excavation at the entrance gates in 1930.
Recording of a collapsed section of the facing of the curtain wall found that much of it was a 19C refacing using earlier bricks, when it was regarded as a 'Picturesque' garden feature; within this were glimpses of an earlier wall face of similar red brick, possibly a wall of similar date to the 'Tudor' bastion north-east of the east gate <8>.
See [15821] for the gatehouse, the only medieval building still standing within the castle walls.

Sources and further reading

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