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TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emporers of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
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    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
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    Early Fortifications Motte and bailey Castles Square Keeps Castle of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
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    Knights Training
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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Berkhamsted Castle
Castle
Castle
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Berkhamsted Castle

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 County

Hertfordshire (5 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Royal castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location51.76365,-0.55962 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Hertfordshire (5 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Royal castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
51.76365,-0.55962
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
erkhamsted Castle was an important castle during the Medieval period. It was at Berkampstead that William the Conqueror accepted the submission of the Saxon leaders before moving to London to be crowned King of England. The castle at Berkampstead was built by William the Conqueror's half-brother Robert, the count of Mortain. This first castle would have been a wooden motte and bailey type. The castle was improved greatly over the centuries being replaced by stone. The castle was defended by a series of moats and walls with gate houses and drawbridges. In 1216 the English barons who opposed King John requested help from Prince Louis of France. Louis invaded England and besieged the castle which surrendered to him within a few weeks. The castle was recaptured in the following year. Although the castle remained mainly in royal ownership it was given to Thomas Becket by Henry II and later it was given to Piers Gaveston by Edward II. Edward the Black Prince was given ownership of the castle by his father Edward III as part of the duchy or Cornwall and it is here that the Prince imprisoned King John II of France after the French defeat at the Battle of Poitiers. The end of the castle came in around 1580 when it was granted to Sir Edward Cary, the Keeper of the Jewels, who is thought to have used masonary from the castle to build Berkhampstead Place, a house that overlooks the castle from a hill.

Because so much of the stone was removed only a few remains of the castle can still be seen. These include the motte with the foundations of a shell keep, the moat and several low sections of the curtain wall that surrounded the bailey.

Location

See Also

People

  • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
  • Robert (Count of Mortain)
  • Becket, Thomas (St)
  • Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Timeline

1216

...

Berkhamsted Castle is captured by the French

Prince Louis of France besieged the castle at Berkhamsted. It fell to his army within a few weeks.

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Medieval people

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Location

See Also

People

  • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
  • Robert (Count of Mortain)
  • Becket, Thomas (St)
  • Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

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