More information : [SD47356183] Castle [G.T.]. N (1)
Lancaster Castle, as now seen, is principally a mediaeval
structure; this has been considerably altered during the last
century by the building of the great Shire Hall in place of the
ancient towers and walls on its NW. side. The site is on an
isolated hill; the present castle gradually replaced an earlier
motte and bailey castle with timbered palisading. (2)
The Castle stands upon the site of a Roman station. William the Conqueror confirmed Lancaster, then a vill of Halton, to ROGER de POITOU. He is credited with the restoration or rebuilding of the castle. He was the builder of the keep which was set on a mound of Saxon origin. The building must have been erected prior to A.D. 1102. In 1199 the castle was besieged and taken by Hubert de Burgh and the earthworks strongly fortified. In 1209 Earl of Chester had to provide men for the construction of the moats and fosses. The castle was partially destroyed by the Scots in 1314. From the foundation upwards, there is no trace of Saxon masonry. (3)
Similar info. to (3)....... In the Civil War the Castle was first in the hands of the Royalists, but the townspeople took possession of it for the Parliament. Later it was unsuccessfully besieged by the Royalists under the Earl of Derby. Some time afterwards it was partly dismantled, but withstood another siege in Aug. 1648. Since 1745 it has been almost wholly used as a common prison. (4)
LANCASTER CASTLE occupies the site of a Roman camp and a Saxon wooden fort. [Similar info. to (2)]. (5)
The mediaeval castle covered an irregular area measuring c. 380' E-W and 350' N-S. In 1663 the high sheriff petitioned the king to see the castle repaired as formerly. Estimate of cost of repair returned on 12th Jan. 1663-4 was #1,957. The repairs then effected seem to have subsisted down to the end of the 18th cent. when certain alterations were made in 1788. (6)
Date of erection of Keep estimated to be c.1088-1090 A.D. (7)
The Castle was used as a prison until 1915, now used for
County Assizes thrice yearly. For extent, description and present condition please see O.S. 25", component cards & photographs. (8)
Listed in Cathcart King. (9)
Granted by William I to Roger of Poitou, by Henry I to Stephen, Count of Mortain, and by Richard I to his brother John, Lancaster Castle reverted to the Crown after John's rebellion. In 1267 it was granted to Edmund, 1st Earl of Lancaster, and since 1399 has formed the nucleus of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Duchy was administered from the castle, the latter including the county courts, gaol, and lodgings for the Duchy officials. During the Civil War, Parliament ordered that all of the walls should be pulled down, onlt the gatehouse and the buildings in the south and west with towers being retained. The order was only partially carried out because a Parliamentary force successfully with stood a siege in 1648. However, demolition was proceeded with in 1649, except for those buildings necessary for the Courts of Justice and the gaol. Folowing the Restoraton, the justices of the peace petitioned the King to restore the castle, but the cost of £1957 was considered prohibitive. Considerable repairs were made until the responsibility for the upkeep of the castle passed to the expense of the County , and the new courts, prisons and other buildings were built between 1788-1823. (10,11)
The monument is also visible as upstanding structures on air photographs mapped as part of the North West Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey.
(12-13)
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