Return to introduction or Go to next location Stafford CastleThe first castle on this site was constructed around the year 1100 and was a motte and bailey wooden castle that was built ‘on the mound’ 2 miles from the west of the town centre.
The first stone castle was started in 1347 on the instructions of Ralph de Stafford. In 1348 he was given licence to crenellate his ‘dwelling place in Stafford’. The castle was completed in 1368. The castle design was to be rectangular in plan, measuring about 120 by 50 ft, with an octagonal tower at each of the corners and a fifth tower in the centre of the north side. The walls were to be 7ft thick at the base and the towers were to be 10ft higher than the main body of the building. There was to be three chambers in each tower, each with a draught and chimney. Among the outbuildings were barns, stables and a mill house. A very deep well was situated slightly north-east of the castle and said to date from the time of Henry IV. Within the castle there was also a chapel dedicated to St Nicholas. The castle mound was strategically placed to give uninterrupted views towards Wales, at the time this was where the greatest threat was from. Uninterrupted views are provided from all areas of the castle for 20 or 30 miles.
Stafford Castle and the Civil War In a room in the Ancient High House Sir William Brereton is writing to the Earl of Northampton about a small skirmish at Stafford castle. ‘In my last I gave your excellence an account of the taking of Stafford by a very small force. Since that time we have done our utmost endeavour to fortify the town and make good the breaches. Upon Thursday we went to the castle, faced it and demanded the same. The old Lady Stafford had betaken herself to the castle, removed her family and some say her goods. We made as large a force as possible to induce my Lady to admit some of our men to secure the castle, and gave her assurance of all protection (we were able to give) for her person, goods, servants and tenants. We acquainted her with the miseries which would inevitably fall upon her house and estate; and did most earnestly beseech her to be just to herself, and to those who were to succeed, as not to be persuaded by wicked and obstinate counsel, and to bring unavoidable destruction upon herself, and to do great injury to those that should succeed. We spent much time upon this treaty, but it was vain and fruitless. We conceive her heart was hardened by the pernicious council of some priest, jesuites, or other incendiaries about her, who delight in nothing but fire and sword. And seeing nothing is more apparent than that they thirst after blood, I doubt not but the righteous Lord will measure out unto them a bloody portion of drink, and will establish peace and quietness unto his people in due time. These fair propositions being rejected, the forces returned and before I came to the town I saw some of the poor outhouses set on fire to see whether these would work their spirits to any relenting, but all in vain; for from the castle they shot some of our men and horses, which did much to enrage and provoke the rest to a fierce revenge, and to practice those extremities which consumed before the next ordinance almost all the dwelling houses and outhouses to the ground. Since that time we hear there are several considerable persons in this block-up castle, which we resolve to observe and attend as much as possible until we can recover the same and disperse them .’ The defenders still held out for the king but on 22 nd December 1643 the Parliamentary Committee at Stafford ordered the demolition of the castle. After the castle was demolished in 1643 Sir William Jerningham succeeded. He had the whole site cleared and his son Sir George William Jerningham started to rebuild on the old foundations the work being supervised and designed by his brother Edward.
The design of the building was to have been ‘after the style of Edward III. and is an early example of a castle rebuilt in the Gothic style. This was never completed. Unfortunately the castle was to become unstable and in 1950’s the structure was declared unsafe and over the years parts of the castle were again demolished and made safe. As you approach the castle from the main road you go past a field on the right-hand side of the drive. This field is used for car parking when major events are held at the castle. This is probably the location of the ‘lost village’ of Robert de Stafford’s ‘Monetvile’. There would have been houses, stables and trades of all types to supply the village and castle.
From the castle you get a commanding view over the Stafford area and the river.
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