Whittington Castle

Whittington Castle

This is the remains of a castle begun around 1221 by Fulke Fitz Warine on the site of a late 11th or 12th century motte and bailey castle. The original earthwork fortification was replaced by a rectangular plan with projecting semi-circular towers protecting both inner and outer baileys. The castle was defended by elaborate water defences in the form of surrounding moats.

The principal survival is the outer gatehouse, constructed of regularly coursed and dressed grey limestone blocks with ashlar dressings. The gatehouse comprises two D-shaped towers with slate roofs flanking a broad pointed arch with single-chamfer and roll moulding. The structure stands two storeys tall with a plain corbel table and embattled parapet. The upper level contains restored pointed windows with 19th century cast-iron casements, while the lower level features cross-shaped arrow-loops. The stepped plinth supports double nail-studded plank doors with restored panelling to the inner face; a small armorial shield above appears to be 19th century work. Projecting corbelled fireplaces protrude to left and right in the angle with the curtain wall. The curtain wall itself is pierced by cross-shaped arrow-loops and incorporates two semi-circular bastions to the right side. The gatehouse is approached by a short late medieval bridge of roughly coursed limestone rubble with a segmental pointed arch.

To the left, the return wall of the left tower contains a two-light trefoil-headed window with square label on the upper level. The inner wall has a segmental-headed chamfered doorway set in the angle with the gateway.

Behind the right curtain wall stands a late 17th century cottage, now offices. It is timber-framed with narrow red brick infill, rendered to the front and left gable end, with a slate roof. The single storey with attic comprises apparently two framed bays. The framing consists of square panels—three from the chamfered plinth to wall-plate—though much altered to the front. A collar and tie beam truss is exposed to the left gable end. Two late 20th century casements light the ground floor, with three contemporary raking eaves dormers above. The entrance is to the right through a late 20th century panelled door beneath a contemporary lean-to porch. A stepped external end stack to the left has its top rebuilt in late 19th century yellow brick; a similar red brick stack to the back wall also has its top rebuilt in 19th century yellow brick.

South of the outer gatehouse and moat lie extensive ruins of a rectangular raised platform. The facing has been largely robbed, though the rubble core survives. A semi-circular bastion at the north-west angle contains a narrow 13th century four-centred arch on the first level to the east side, probably originally approached by external steps. Remains of a mutilated window opening appear above, with a narrow arrow-loop to the west. Remains of another small bastion formerly part of the gatehouse and of larger bastions at the north-east, south-east and south-west corners are visible. Excavation has uncovered foundations of several buildings on the platform, including a central rectangular tower (possibly the keep) with a forebuilding to the east, a circular tower, fireplaces and a well.

Extensive earthworks in the fields to south and west, and probably formerly to the east (though now truncated by road), include an oval-shaped flat-topped mound to the west, which may represent the original motte. Water played an important defensive role, with surrounding moats best preserved to the north, south and east of the outer gatehouse.

Substantial destruction occurred from the mid to late 18th century. The eastern tower collapsed in 1760, and one of the northern towers and part of the west wall were demolished shortly afterwards to provide material for repairs to the Whittington-Halston road.

The gatehouse interior has been much altered, though at the time of survey in June 1986 it was only partially inspected and likely retains some features of interest.

The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.