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Summary

Tattershall Castle

Full description

PRN 43561
Built by Ralph, Baron Cromwell at the beginning of the 15th century. After a short period it passed to the Crown and Henry VII settled it on his mother the Duchess of Richmond. Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, received it as a present from Henry VIII. It was dismantled and unroofed during the Civil War. {1}
Retained by Lord Curzon at the beginning of the 20th century and given to the National Trust. The massive red-brick keep is a symbol of the power and wealth of Lord Cromwell. Various ruins can be seen in the baileys and there is a gatehouse which now houses the National Trust's bookshop and museum. {2}
A magnetometer survey carried out on the narrow field south of the churchyard and south-east of the castle revealed areas of archaeological interest probably in connection with the castle. Three zones may be picked out from this survey, including what looks like a pit, two parallel linear features in line with the churchyard and what looks like building remains and a possible trackway.{5}
The monument includes Tattershall Castle and College. The castle originated as an enclosure castle constructed in the 13th century by Robert of Tattershall. In the 15th century it passed to Ralph, first Lord Cromwell, who rebuilt it as a fortified house and founded a college on the adjacent site (see 60971). {7}
Stained glass in the museum dates to the 15th century and to about 1434-50.{8}
A building survey of the gatehouse was carried out in 1998 as part of a programme of repairs.{9}{10}
Ten test pits and a trial trench were excavated at Tattershall Castle prior to repairs to the moat structures at TF 21068 57519. They focused on the kitchen range structures to the south-east of the keep. Artefacts recovered from the deposits demonstrated that they were not primary deposits as the artefacts were mixed with 20th century finds. This implied that they were associated with the early 20th century renovation of the property. Most of the pottery recovered dated from the 13th to 17th centuries which was when the castle was occupied. {11}{12}
The infill of the outer moat was revealed during a watching brief monitoring the excavation of a cable trench. A very small quantity (4 sherds) of medieval and early post-medieval pottery was also recovered. {13}
Excavations on the moat were carried out by William Weir in 1912-14, as part of Lord Curzon's restoration of the castle. A collection of pottery, ceramic building material, glass, metal, clay pipe, plaster and worked stone was retained from the excavation. The material has only recently been systematically identified and catalogued. {14}
Several geophysical surveys were carried out during summer 2009 in the Inner and Outer Wards of the castle, the churchyard and the Meadows. A number of probable structures were identified in the Inner and Outer Wards, and the Inner Ward was investigated further with a Vertical Electrical Section survey. Structural elements relating to the College were identified in the churchyard (see PRN 43577). Probable evidence of the Outer Moat encircling the Outer Ward was also identified, and probable additional fishponds in the Meadows were recorded. A bank extending north towards the Tiltyard was also seen. An augering survey was also carried out to gain information about the former landscape in the area. {15}{16}
For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {18}

Monument Types

• CASTLE (Medieval - 1200 AD? to 1450 AD?)
• FORTIFIED HOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1450 AD to 1650 AD)
• GATEHOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1450 AD? to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• FLOOR TILE
• WALL PLASTER
• ASSEMBLAGE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• RIDGE TILE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1150 AD? to 1550 AD?)
• TILE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1150 AD? to 1800 AD?)
• CARVED STONE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1200 AD? to 1799 AD?)
• SHERD (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1200 AD to 1800 AD)
• TILE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1300 AD to 1750 AD)
• ASSEMBLAGE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1400 AD? to 1900 AD)
• CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Events

• Earth resistance geophysical survey at Tattershall Castle
• Vertical Electrical Section geophysical survey at Tattershall Castle
• Magnetometry geophysical survey at Tattershall Castle
• Augering survey at Tattershall Castle
• Vertical Electrical Section geophysical survey at Tattershall Castle
• Building survey of Tattershall Castle Gatehouse
• Geophysical survey at Tattershall Castle
• Test pits at Tattershall Castle, Tattershall
• Watching brief at Tattershall Castle

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument
• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

Related records

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