Monument Type(s):

• CHAPEL (14th century to 17th century - 1300 AD to 1699 AD)
• FORTIFIED MANOR HOUSE (14th century to 17th century - 1300 AD to 1699 AD)
• SERVICE WING (14th century to 17th century - 1300 AD to 1699 AD)
• STABLE (Late 18th century - 1760 AD to 1799 AD)
• COACH HOUSE (Mid 19th century - 1837 AD to 1879 AD)

Summary

The fortified manor house known as Apley Castle was built about 1327. The 14th century house was extended and remodelled in the late 16th/ early 17th century. It was altered in the 18th century when it was used as stables associated with the nearby country house (PRN 12881). Substantial parts of the 14th century house remain and form the core of the stable block. The building is listed Grade II*.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3228 - 1980 assessment of Apley Castle estate, including contour survey by BUFAU
• ESA5590 - 1995 evaluation at Apley Castle by University of Bristol Archaeological Service (Ref: UBAS ACP 95A)
• ESA5915 - 2000 site visit by English Heritage MPP Fieldworker
• ESA692 - 1960 survey by the NMR
• ESA693 - 1975 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA694 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA695 - 1989 building recording at Apley Castle by CHAU
• ESA696 - 1990 trial trenches in the ditch of Apley Castle by CHAU
• ESA697 - 1993 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA6512 - 1995 sample excavation and watching brief at Apley Castle, Apley, by SCCAS

Description

A licence to crenellate was granted to the Charlton family of Apley in the early C14. The house was surrounded by a moat and had an internal courtyard <1a><1b>
The remains of the house (fortifiied in 1308 [<1c>]) and those the 17th century replacement house have been incorporated into the stable at Apley [PRN 00696]. The house was slighted during the Civil War and superceded by a house to the NE [PRN 12881] (since demolished) in the late C18. No traces of a moat <1>
Former stable block at Apsley Castle now disused, as described above, being of ashlar construction with stone windows, largely of 18th century date but probably incorporating 17th century work, upon a base of rough-hewn, uncoursed blocks of masonry. There are no traces of a moat. <1d>

Late C18 stabling incorporating remains of early/mid C14 manor house extended and remodelled in late C16/early C17. Squared and coursed sandstone with ashlar dressings. Early/mid C14 house of U plan with central hall flanked by service wing to left and solar wing with chapel to right; remodelled and flanking wings extended to rear in late C16/early C17, truncated in late C18 when south range built across rear enclosing central courtyard and existing late C16/early C17 extensions reduced in height. North elevation has early/mid C14 chamfered pointed-arched doorway to left and late C16/early C17 inserted square-headed window (blocked) to right of central hall range, flanked by remains of slightly projecting former service wing to left and., to right, projecting former chapel with blocked early/mid C14 chamfered pointed-arched window (later turned into doorway) above blocked late C16/early C17 square-headed doorway and former solar wing with late C16/early C17 chamfered stone-mullioned 4-light window inserted above C14 one-light window (to former undercroft). West elevation has 2-storey, 2-window range to medieval solar wing with similar late C16/early C17 mullioned and transomed 3-light windows to ground floor and smaller square-headed first-floor windows with chamfered architraves; late C16/early C17 extension to right, reduced to one-storey, 3-window range, has similar 3 and 5-light windows flanking late C18 segmental-arched doorway with late C18 three-light mullioned and transomed window to right. East elevation, reduced to one-storey, has 4-window range with similar 2 and 3-light windows flanking central early C19 elliptical-arched entry. South elevation, built in late C18, has 2:3:2 fenestration with slightly-projecting outer bays and impost band linking semi-circular arched recesses. ->

-> Interior- former medieval open hall has two chamfered pointed-arched service doors to east, the north door having unique bas-relief flagons as chamfer stops and the south door (probably later) having quirk and tongue stops; inserted late C16/early C17 square-headed fireplace with C14 splayed jamb to west being remnant of dais window blocked by insertion of stack. Former first-floor chapel has C14 one-light pointed-arched north window, with splayed east jamb, turned into doorway; south wall has early/mid C14 ogee-headed piscina, chamfered rere-arch to early/mid C14 two-light ogee-headed window set in splayed recess with chamfered mullion and rebated architrave, and square-headed doorway (probably late C16/early C17) inserted into C14 squint at west end; west wall has blocked pointed-arched window adjoining blocked Caernarvon-arched window which probably lit former spiral stair; blocked square-headed early/mid C14 doorways to ground floor. Late C18 west wall of courtyard (rebuilt 1980s), and 4 semi-circular arched coach-house doorways to north wall of courtyard, on approximate line of south wall of medieval hall. Six-horse stable to south-east with cast-iron finials and newels to early C19 stalls. ->

-> History: the early/mid C14 house was probably built soon after Alan de Charleton was given licence to crenellate in 1327; the late C16/early C17 work was carried out for Andrew Charlton and his son Francis; the building was converted by the Charltons into stables in 1792-4 when their new country house at Apley Castle (demolished) was built <2>

Series of buildings around a courtyard, incorporating the remains of a 14th century fortified house and chapel which was subsequently remodelled in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The building was acquired by Telford Development Corporation in 1971, but with no immediate use for the buildings they became derelict. In the late 1980s the complex became part of youth training scheme, which resulted in inappropriate deconstruction and reconstruction works. Following advice from English Heritage these activities ceased in 1988 and this building survey was commissioned. ->

-> Six building phases were identified by the survey. More details, elevations and photographs are included in the report: ->

-> The first phase was dated to the early to mid 14th century and so clearly relates to the crenellation licence of 1327. The latter refers specifically to the construction of a wall of stone and lime around Alan de Charleton's mansions at both Apley and Witheford [the report contains more historical detail about the family], but also implies the phased replacement of an earlier timber building with stone. The implication is that the timber building was on the same site, making the suggestion that there was an earlier site at Home Farm [see PRN 03835] less likely (though not impossible). 14th century masonry, which had already been recognised in the north block of the building, but had been interpreted as reused masonry from the earlier site, was identified by this survey as structural. A two-storey chapel block(with surviving piscina and original window opening), part of an open hall and part of two cross wings (the solar wing and the service wing) were identified. These would have formed the core of the first stone house. ->

-> The second identified phase was later medieval (early to mid 15th century). At this time, there is structural evidence of rebuilds to the solar wing and east wall of the chapel. Traces of 15th century wall paintings were recorded from the chapel. ->

-> By 1620 a new and much larger house had been completed on the site by Francis Charlton (possibly begun by his father, Andrew). One reference suggests that this house was started as early as 1567. The building survey identified this third building phase as late 16th or early 17th century, from the architectural evidence (actually there were probably two phases of building, but quite close in time). The hall was clearly remodelled and a fireplace and chimney inserted. An engraving of c1730 (known only from later copies, as the original is lost) indeed shows that the south wall of the medieval hall was completely rebuilt and large windows inserted, whilst the two cross wings were extended south (forming the east and west wings of what is now the stable block). There may also have been a north wing, of uncertain extent and function. Traces of these alterations were found, though the details remain unclear. Documentation from the Civil War period shows that some sort of curtain wall was still in existence. The 18th century engraving also shows part of a surrounding wall and southern gatehouse (probably also remodelledin this phase). The walled garden [PRN 08469] was constructed at the same time. ->

-> Civil War documentation also shows that the house was damaged when it was taken from its Royalist garrison by Parliament, and then slighted by the Royalists when they recovered it. Some references suggest that the damage was quite bad, whilst others suggest the opposite. The house was certainly still habitable in 1659, when an inventory lists the rooms. These included the Chapel Chamber, which was now in use as a bedroom. A slightly later inventory also lists associated outbuildings. ->

-> The house was still in use in the 18th century, but appears to have gone out of use by 1791. The contract for the new house [PRN 12881] allows the architect to reuse any materials from the old, except for the southern and western parts, which were to be converted into stables and coach houses. This block was extensively remodelled at this point (the fourth building phase identified by the survey), with the inferior quality of the workmanship showing that it was no longer of any great status. The east and west wings were reduced in height, mostly to single storey plus attic, and adapted to form offices and stables. At the north end, a floor was inserted into the hall (which probably became servants' quarters or offices), and the north wing was replaced or radically altered to become a terrace of workers cottages. A neo-classical arcaded block was built to link the east and west wings, thus creating the courtyard format in which the building survives. The bricks used in this phase are distinctive, larger than standard and similar to those used in the Ditherington Flax Mill, Shrewsbury, in the mid 1790s. ->

-> The block was further modified in the late 1850s (fifth phase) in association with the extension of the main house. Virtually every section of the building appears to have been remodelled to create good quality stables and estate offices. Finally, the sixth phase identified by the building survey consisted of 20th century alterations to the building complex, including various demolitions <3>

No remains of the moat are present around the manor house which incorporates substantial C14 masonry in its fabric. A license to crenellate was granted in 1327 and there is a medieval documentary reference to a moat around the hall < 5>

Licence to crenellate 10th July 1327 <7>

Rebuilt by Francis Charlton temp. Charles I at a cost of £6000 <8>

Materials form Wombridge Priory [PRN 01106] were used in building at Apley in 1693-8 <9>

In December 1993 a schedule of urgent repair works was drawn up, following the visit of an English Heritage structural engineer <14><15>

In 1990 CHAU were commissioned by TDC to carry out assessment excavations to determine the position of the moat on the north and west sides of the building complex. Three trenches were dug which located the position of the moat along the west and northern sides of the site. On the western side of the building complex the moat was broad and deep, with ample evidence that it was filled with water. On the northern side the moat was not as deep and there was no evidence that it had contained water. The western moat was close to the line of the buildings whilst on the north it was some 25 from the main complex. One reason for the variation in width and depth may be that the western arm of the moat was widened and deepened to form a pool at a late point in its history. <16>

In 1995 an evaluation was carried out by the University of Bristol Archaeology Service on the area to be affected by a proposed housing and farm building conversion development just to the north of 00696. The report accepts the findings of the CHAU assessment [<3>] regarding the presence of at least two medieval building phases within the remains of the stable block. The moat almost certainly would have been contemporary with the 14th century construction of the castle. Trench Five was 17m long and ran from the castle northwards to the edge of the moat. All the medieval deposits appeared to have been removed. There was no trace of the documented curtain wall around the castle. Trench Six was 30m long and ran southwards from the walled garden, SA 17432, to the edge of the moat. The moat was found to have been cleaned out on several occasions and there was no trace of intact silt accumulation <17>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 133 Moated sites <19>

The phase 3 (early C17) building was a typical half H plan mansion of the time. Although the external walls were faced with ashlared stone, their inner skins were of brick. The damage which occurred in the Civil War seems to have included the destruction of the medieval defensive wall <20>

The fortified manor house known as Apley Castle, which occupies a moated site, was the residence of the Charlton family. It was built about 1327 following a licence to crenellate. The 14th century house was extended and remodelled in the late 16th/ early 17th century. It was altered in the 18th century when it was used as stables associated with the nearby country house. Substantial parts of the 14th century house remain and form the core of the stable block. The building is listed Grade II*. It has now been divided into a series of domestic apartments. ->

-> The moat surrounding the former manor house has been completely infilled. Trenches dug as part of an archaeological evaluation in 1990 found that the western arm of the moat was broad, deep and had retained water, whilst the northern arm was less deep and probably never contained water. A further archaeological evaluation in 1995 found that the northern moat arm had been cleaned out on several occasions and that there were no medieval deposits surviving. The southern and eastern sides of the moated island are discernible as low scarps, indicating that the island had been slightly raised above the level of the surrounding ground <21>

A programme of sample excavation was carried out at Apley Castle in association with the conversion of the former medieval and post-medieval house and more recent stable blocks into a number of residential units. A number of trial trenches and test-pits were excavated and recorded across the site and a series of groundworks were monitored. ->

-> With the abandonment of the house as the Charlton family home in the late 18th century, the old manor house was converted for use as a stable block. It has been suggested that the hall was probably used as servants' quarters, and a number of structural alterations were made to the hall at this time. ->

-> Remodelling of the west wing in the late 18th century was evidenced by the insertion of a brick wall across the range from east to west, cutting across the footings of the earlier Phase 3 north-south partition. The footings of wall 1073 were then sealed beneath a hard pink mortar floor. The south wall of the early 14th-century solar was rebuilt at this time from its second course upwards in stone and brick - the scar of this rebuilt wall could still be seen in the whitewash and plaster on the outside of the southwest corner of the hall. This rebuilt wall was 0.6m thick, and was offset very slightly (by about 0.8m) to the south. The removal of sections of the existing floors in the southern and eastern ranges of the stable block revealed the brick foundations of internal partition walls which had not been retained in later alterations to the stables. ->

-> In the mid-19th century, the stable blocks were completely remodelled, and the hall was converted for use as a coach house. In the late 20th century a bitumen floor surface was laid within the hall, covering the entire area except for the northwestern corner.<22>

Apley Castle. Georgian mansion with Victorian additions. ->

-> Stables. Mostly early 19th century incorporating remains of the old 16th century castle of Apley. Grade 2. <23>

Description of stables at Apley Castle enlarged and amended. <24>

SJ 655132 Remains of moat and buildings noted in list of moated sites in Shropshire. Summary report on a survey commissioned by English Heritage in 1989, which showed that the manor house had survived largely intact. It consisted of a hall, with a two-storey service block at the low end and a solar block at the high, next to which was a first floor chapel, whose fixtures were also almost intact. <25>

Listed as a vanished castle. <26>

Sources

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