Winchcombe Castle was built in the town of the same name in Gloucestershire, in 1144 during the civil war known as the Anarchy. It was captured later the same year, and no traces now survive.
History
Winchcombe Castle was built in 1144, during the civil war between the followers of the Empress Matilda and King Stephen. The town of Winchcombe had been captured in 1140 by Miles of Gloucester, the Earl of Hereford, a supporter of Matilda. His son, Roger Fitzmiles, the Earl of Hereford and a supporter of Matilda, constructed a probable motte-and-bailey castle there in 1144. The castle was built on the south side of St Peter’s Church, and may have made use of old Anglo-Saxon burh fortifications there.
Later in 1144, King Stephen’s forces moved to retake the town and assaulted the castle. After a fierce fight, recorded by chroniclers in some detail, the royalist forces climbed up the steep motte under the cover of their archers, and took the castle.
There is no further record of the castle, and no traces of it now survive.
Bibliography
- Matthew Tilley and Tim Grubb. (2008) Extensive Urban Survey – Gloucestershire: Tewkesbury Borough Archaeological Assessments, Winchcombe. Gloucestershire County Council: Gloucester, UK.
- Walker, D. (1991) “Gloucestershire Castles,” Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, Volume 109, pp. 5-23.
Attribution
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