Bristol Castle

  • Castle Street, Bristol, Somerset
  • Scheduled Monument
  • Grade II Listed Building.

 

Motte enclosure castle.

 

1088                            c: Held by Geoffrey de Mountbray, Bishop of Coutances.

1106                            Robert II Cuthrose, Duke of Normandy, was imprisoned at the castle.

1120’s                         Rebuilt by Robert, Earl of Gloucester.

1135-1154                   During: The Great Tower was built.

1140                            c: Motte demolished and keep built.

1141                            King Stephen was held prisoner at the castle after being captured by Lincoln.

1173-1174                   Royal castle.

1216-1272                   Henry III spent money on a new barbican, gate tower and Hall.

1283                            Two Welsh princes, sons of Dafydd ap Gruffydd were imprisoned in the castle

13th C                          Rebuilt.

1327                            Edward II was held in the castle following his forced abdication.

1399                            John Bushey, Henry Green and William Scrope, Earl of Wiltshire, fled to the castle after the Duke of Lancaster landed in England whilst Richard II was in Ireland.

1399                            c 4th July: Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, his son Henry Percy and  Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland, laid siege to the castle with a force of 60,000 Lancastrian supporters.

1455-1487                   Wars of The Roses: Yorkist castle.

1486                            In ruins.

15th C                          Derelict and abandoned.

1540-1546                   Itinerary of John Leland: Ruined. Had a few towers.

1634-1635                   In ruins.

1645                            Civil War: Captured by Sir Thomas Fairfax for Parliament.

1647                            March: Garrison kept at the castle.

1650                            c: Demolished by orders of Parliament

1653                            April: The garrison was disbanded.

1653-1655                   The castle was demolished under the orders of Oliver Cromwell.

1655                            October: Demolition of the castle had taken place.

1847                            Moat covered.

1951                            Excavated – curtain wall uncovered

1960’s                         Excavated – gateway and underground passageway uncovered

1968                            Cock and Bottle Lane excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1968-1970                   Excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1969                            Middle Terrace excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1970                            East Street excavated by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1970                            Motte and part of the ditch excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1970                            Castle Park and North Side excavated by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1970                            North west corner of the keep Watching Brief by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1970                            St. Peters church and Castle Street, excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1970                            Peter Street excavated by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            Motte ditch Watching Brief by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            Newgate Watching Brief by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            North west corner of the keep Watching Brief by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            Original motte ditch Watching Brief by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            Motte ditch watching brief by excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            Wall Watching Brief  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1971                            North of Castle Green Watching Brief by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1989                            Keep excavated by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1992-1993                   Peter Street and Castle Park Watching Brief by  Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.

1993                            North west of castle keep excavated by Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

1993                            Castle Park Evaluated by  Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

1994-1995                   South and west curtain walls Watching Brief by Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

1995                            Castle Park Watching Brief by Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

1996                            Vaulted chambers Watching Brief by Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

20th C                          Nothing survives.

2000                            Vaulted chambers Watching Brief by Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

2000                            Broadmeade assessed by Bristol and Region Archaeological Services.

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