Rockingham Castle

Rockingham Castle

A castle dating from the 11th century, now a country house. The castle was founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, though it was a Royal Castle until 1619 when James I sold it to Sir Lewis Watson, whose family remain the owners. The castle was attacked during the Civil War, after which the remains of the keep were demolished.

The original motte and bailey with shell keep has evolved into an irregular H-shaped layout with an outer bailey to the north and a courtyard to the south. The buildings are constructed principally in limestone ashlar and squared coursed limestone with ironstone, with Collyweston slate roofing. Most structures are two storeys with attics.

The 11th-century castle foundations survive, with parts of the gatehouse possibly dating to this period. However, most of the present structures are later. The gatehouse was substantially rebuilt in 1275-80, as was a section of wall to the south and the structure of the great hall, all dating from the 13th century. A range to the east of the great hall was constructed in 1535 with a datestone of 1553. The range to the west of the great hall is 16th-century work that was remodelled in 1660 and again in the mid-19th century by architect Anthony Salvin. Ancillary buildings including the laundry to the south and Walkers House to the north of the gatehouse date from 1650.

The gatehouse comprises squared coursed ironstone with a pair of semicircular limestone ashlar towers connected by a 2-centred arch. It features cross slits in the towers, chamfered plinth, string courses and castellated parapets. A 13th-century curtain wall is attached, with a 17th-century gable and a square turret with a blocked 4-centred arch to the first floor.

The great hall elevation, accessed through the gateway, displays squared coursed limestone and ironstone with a 5-window range featuring 4-, 3- and 2-light stone mullion and transom windows, topped with small gables. A 13th-century arch-headed door opening leads to the screens passage and displays coats of arms above. A large lateral stack occupies the centre, with a 19th-century staircase projection by Salvin to the right. A three-gabled range attached to the left breaks forward with 4-light stone mullion and transom windows and similar 2-light attic windows, all with ashlar gable parapets finished with finials and stone stacks with octagonal flues at ridge and eaves.

Walkers House is single-storey with an attic and undercroft, featuring a 3-window range of stone mullion and transom windows with a central door opening. It is topped with an ashlar parapet and hipped roof with two hipped dormers.

The west range, attached at right angles to the great hall, is a 4-window range with 3-light stone mullion and transom windows to both first and ground floors, with two 4-centred arched door openings and a central lateral stack. The garden front to the rear of this range comprises an 11-window range with stone mullion windows, five of which have pediments. The central gable, forming the end of the great hall range, displays 6-light and 4-light stone mullion and transom windows. A long canted bay of 1838 by Salvin extends as a 3-storey tower with a corner turret and castellated parapet. A nearby gable by Salvin features attached steps flanked by cannon balls.

The courtyard includes a 17th-century four-window range and a similar range with a 19th-century passage projection. A 19th-century Bachelors wing in 17th-century style is attached. To the right is a narrow yard containing a 17th-century two-storey range, now partly a brewhouse, with 17th and 18th-century lean-to buildings abutting the 13th-century curtain wall. The laundry at the curtain wall's end comprises a 5-window range with 2-light stone mullion windows, some with transoms, and a square-headed door with moulded surround.

Internally, the great hall is now subdivided and contains a reset screens passage, reset 17th-century panelling and a large fireplace with moulded stone surround, with inscriptions on ceiling beams. A 19th-century kitchen range adjoins the great hall to the left, with a 19th-century staircase to the rear right. The panel room, formed from the original hall, features late 17th-century style panelling. The library to the south of the west range was remodelled in the early 20th century in 18th-century style. A long gallery on the first floor of the north end of the west range features a fireplace dated 1634, though mostly carries 19th-century decoration. A 17th-century staircase, probably reset, survives in Walkers House. A staircase to the long gallery was built by Salvin.