Monument Type(s):

• GATEHOUSE (17th century to Unknown - 1640 AD) + Sci.Date

Summary

A timber framed gatehouse, whose timbers have been dated by Dendrochronology to 1639-41. The building is part of the Scheduled Monument of Stokesay Castle and is also Listed Grade I.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA7429 - 2004 building survey and watching brief, The Gatehouse Chimney, Stokesay Castle by Archaeological Investigations Ltd
• ESA7430 - 2004 further building survey, The Gatehouse Chimney, Stokesay Castle by Archaeological Investigations Ltd
• ESA4414 - 1993 Excavation and WB at the gatehouse of Stokesay Castle by CHAU
• ESA9813 - 2019 WB on fencing works, Stokesay Castle by Nigel Baker

Description

[List Description covers both the Manor House, PRN 00159, and the Gatehouse, PRN 14855]
Manor house. c1391-1400; gatehouse added C17.
Gatehouse: timber-frame and plaster on rubble base; stone tile roof with central gable to east; spurred brick ridge stack; stepped rubble exterior stack with C18 brick chimney to south side.
Gatehouse: 2 storeys and attic; single-window range: 2-light lattice-glazed casement in altered opening, under stop-moulded bressumer; 3-light mullion casement to gable, over moulded bressumer. Central passageway, with studded door to rear, under enriched 4-centred arch between pilaster-moulded posts; flanked by 2-light casements, that to left in altered opening; C20 restored moulded bressumer separates post and panel framing from chevron-braced panels of first floor, with spurred quarter bracing to gable; richly carved and ornamented. Rear: similar, with central moulded mullion and transom oriel with lattice glazing; 2 studded plank doors; 3-light casement to right.
INTERIOR: Gatehouse interior not inspected. <2>

In May 2014 English Heritage produced a Consultation Report on Stokesay Castle as part of a project to produce descriptions for some of the sites included on the 1913 Schedule of Ancient Monuments.This included a reference to tree-ring analysis of the Gatehouse timbers having dated its construction to 1639-41. <5>

On the 2nd of September 2014 a History and Description plus the Reasons for Designation were added to the National Heritage List for England Entry for Stokesay Castle (1003011).
At [the moated island's] NE corner stands a C17 timber-framed and elaborately decorated gatehouse. The original gatehouse was probably of stone; however, the current mid-C17 building is timber-framed with elaborately carved brackets and lozenge patterns, typical of houses in Ludlow of this period. At ground level the building has upright timbers infilled with plaster, and the upper floors are jettied out with square panels containing lozenges. There is a gable above the gate-passage which has a central window with a row of five stars beneath it, and a pattern of quarter circles above. Tree-ring analysis of the Gatehouse timbers date the construction to 1639-41.<6>

In 2004, a programme of photographic and building survey was carried out of the south gable chimney of the Gtaehouse at Stokesay Castle in tandem with urgent repairs being carried out to the chimney. <7>

Further to <7>, in late 2004, further recording was undertaken during the dismantling of a lower section of the south gable chimneystack of the Gatehouse at Stokesay Castle, with photographic recording undertaken of the fireplace within the building . <8>

Description including photographs of exterior and carved details.<9>

The Gatehouse is an elaborately carved and jettied structure, and was found to date from 1640/41, just as the Civil War was beginning. A door jamb in the attic dated to 1652, indicating an alteration to the staircase to the top floor. Fragments of panelling originating from the Gatehouse as well as the Solar were found to have been felled after 1639 and may be part of the 1640’s phase. No original timberwork survives in the South Tower, but a replacement first floor ceiling with moulded beams was found to date from 1640/41, obviously part of the same building campaign as the Gatehouse. Fragments of the external door to the South Tower was found to have been felled after 1541.<10>

Watching brief carried out in 1993 by CHAU in conjunction with the installation of electricity cables to the gatehouse and toilet block at Stokesay Castle. The watching brief in the gatehouse was essential due to the removal of a quarry tile floor and approximately 40mm of underlying material. This took place in the single storey extension to the south of the gatehouse. The quarry tiles were recorded photographically during their removal. Directly under the quarry tiles was a thick ash layer which in the north west corner, lay above the incomplete remains of an earlier flagstone floor. The flagstones were photographed as it was considered that the required level could be reached without the removal of this feature. A single fragment of 18 th century slipware was removed from this level but there were no other finds. The further excavation of the inside of a cupboard in the north eastern corner of the room revealed no archaeologically significant features were encountered by the excavation, partially due to the works involved with the initial electrification of the castle. The finds from this excavation included a single pierced stone roof tile, a number of wall plaster fragments and 8 sherds of Victorian and later pottery. <11>

In November 2019, replacement post-and-rail fences were installed on the causeway either side of the path to the gatehouse of Stokesay Castle. Excavations to a maximum depth of 0.75 metres were recorded. No deposits, structures or objects of archaeological significance were encountered. <12>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.