The Scheduled remains of a castle, built on a natural hill to the south-west of Stafford. Probably originally constructed as a motte and bailey, possibly founded by William Rufus in the late 11th century, it was garrisoned by Henry I in the early 12th century. Rebuilt as a stone keep by Ralph de Stafford in the mid 14th century, but besieged by Parliamentarians in 1643 and largely demolished soon after. The keep was rebuilt as a 'folly' in the early 19th century.
Castle: Stone keep built (or rebuilt) be Ralph de Stafford (Earl of Stafford) in circa 1348. Held by the Staffords through the medieval period but besieged and taken by Parliamentary forces in 1643. The castle was demolished shortly afterwards.
Motte and Bailey: It has been suggested that the stone castle succeeded and earlier one located on the south-west side of the town of Stafford. This castle was clearly originally of motte and bailey type and an inner and outer bailey are still visible. The motte crowns a natural hill. <1>
Replaced by newer royal site at Newcastle and passed to the Staffords. <6>
During the reign of Henry II the free chapel of St. Nicholas was described as being within the castle of Stafford. <7>
Possibly originally a royal castle, built soon after Domesday. William Rufus may have been founder. The site was garrisoned in 1102 by Henry I. <8>
Bone fragments and ceramic building materials were recovered during the archaeological recording of small holes excavated for the construction of temporary seating within the scheduled area of the castle. The excavation of 10 small holes (each no deeper than 0.35 metres), on the north-western edge of the inner bailey. These holes revealed a shallow turf layer overlying a mixed red-brown subsoil that appeared to be the make-up of the ramparts. In one of the holes a black charcoal layer was encountered. This charcoal burning may correspond with the destruction of the outer castle by the parliamentarians during the civil war, or may simply be a remnant of excavation debris from the earlier excavation on the site. (SB, 17-Dec-2003) <12>
No archaeological features or artefacts were identified during a watching brief of the construction of a new access road to the visitors car park. (LH, 17-Aug-2007) <13>
A desk-based assessment emphasised the proximity of the proposed golf course extension to the castle. (LH, 22-Jan-2008) <14>
| --- | SST5815 - Other Report: The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd. 2021. Stafford Castle Conservation Management Plan. |
| <1> | SST3723 - Designation Record: Department for Culture Media and Sport / English Heritage. Ongoing-2016. Scheduled Monument Designation Documents, Scheduled Monument Consents and Section 17 Management Agreements. AM7. |
| <2> | SST3723 - Designation Record: Department for Culture Media and Sport / English Heritage. Ongoing-2016. Scheduled Monument Designation Documents, Scheduled Monument Consents and Section 17 Management Agreements. A.M. 107 (C.A.Snowdon, 1982). |
| <3> | SST1963 - Photographic: Staffordshire County Council. 1960s onward. Staffordshire County Council Photographic Collection. various. 72-77 (1965). |
| <4> | SST144 - Aerial Photograph: National Monument Record. 1970s-1980s. National Monument Record Aerial Photograph Collection. Black and White. Oblique. AA62:2321-2330. |
| <5> | SST7 - Photographic: POSTCARDS: 3 OF. |
| <6> | SST3044 - Verbal communication: R.A. Meeson (Staffordshire County Council). 1980 - 2000. Comments on sites in Staffordshire by R.A. Meeson. 1986. |
| <7> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 92 SW - 2 ('Stafford in Olden Times' by J. L. Cherry, 1890, pages 148-149). |
| <8> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 92 SW - 2 ('Domesday Studies' by Rev. R.W. Eyton, 1881, pages 20-21). |
| <9> | SST3636 - Published Book: The Victoria History of the Counties of England. 1908. (VCH volume 1) A History of the County of Stafford, Volume I. Page 355. |
| <10> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 92 SW - 2 (V. J. Burton - Ordnance Survey Field Inspector - 24-Jan-1958). |
| <11> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 92 SW - 2 ('Erdeswick's A Survey of Staffordshire' 1844, pages 145-150 (by T. Harwood)). |
| <12> | SST1265 - Watching Brief Report: Chris Hewitson (Birmingham Archaeology). 2003. Archaeological Recording, Stafford Castle, Stafford, 2003. Pages 2-3. |
| <13> | SST4321 - Watching Brief Report: Dr C. J. Crowe (AAA Archaeological Advisors). 2005. Stafford Castle, Stafford: Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief. Page 2. |
| <14> | SST3958 - Desk Based Assessment Report: John Darlington and David Wilkinson (Stafford Borough Council). 1991. M6 Widening: An Archaeological Assessment (Archaeology Section Report 2). Pages 1 and 2. |
| <15> | SST216 - Aerial Photograph: Cambridge University. Ongoing. Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs (CUCAP). EX85 by J.K. St. Joseph (Copy Held in the HER). |
| <16> | SST4388 - Desk Based Assessment Report: Pat Frost (Castlering Archaeology). 2007. The Re-Development and Extension of the 9 Hole Golf Course to an 18 Hole Golf Course Together With a New Clubhouse Also a Practice Ground and 3 Hole Academy at Stafford Castle Golf Club, Newport Road, Stafford. Pages 1 and 2. |
| <17> | SST1203 - Serial: CBA West Midlands. 1980. West Midlands Archaeology 23 (1980). Page 113. |
| <18> | SST4181 - Other Report: Cameron Moffett, Hilary White & Roy Barnes (Stafford Borough Council). 1984. Stafford Castle: Past Work and Recent Progress. |
| <19> | SST3971 - Desk Based Assessment Report: Stafford Borough Council. 1991. Local Plan Housing and Industrial Allocation: An Archaeological Assessment. |
| <20> | SST270 - Published Book: Timothy Mowl and Dianne Barr. 2009. The Historic Gardens of England: Staffordshire. pages 16-17. |
| <21> | SST3594 - Published Book: Stafford Borough Council. 2001. Stafford Castle: Survey, Excavation and Research 1978-1998. Volume 1 - The Survey.. |
| <22> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 92 SW - 2 (AO/56/100/2 - Section Drawings). |
| <23> | SST11 - Published Book: Stafford Borough Council/Iain Sodin - Editor (Northamptonshire Archaeology). 2007. Stafford Castle: Survey, Excavation and Research 1978-1998 Volume II - The Excavations. |