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Cirencester Castle

In the civil parish of Cirencester.
In the historic county of Gloucestershire.
Modern Authority of Gloucestershire.
1974 county of Gloucestershire.
Medieval County of Gloucestershire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SP02130199
Latitude 51.71664° Longitude -1.97055°

Cirencester Castle has been described as a certain Timber Castle, and also as a Masonry Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

Cirencester Castle stood in the area bounded by Castle Street, Park Lane and Black Jack Street. It received a square keep in 1107, but was destroyed by Stephen in 1142. Park Lane, formerly known as Law-ditch, occupies the site of the castle moat. (PastScape ref. Baddesley)

king Stephen came suddenly with a large force to Cirencester, and "the keepers of the castle having secretly escaped in differenct directions, he found it empty; whereupon he gave it to the flames, and razed to the ground the rampart and the outworks" (ignibus depascendum commissit vallóque et propugnaculis usque ad imum diruto. – Gesta Stephani, 958.) No other contemporary chronicler mentions this fact, and in these two short sentences is comprised the whole authentic history of Cirencester Castle. (Fuller)
Comments

Where does PastScape get the evidence for a square keep being built in 1107? They cite Baddeley (1924) but his other writings don't mention this and he describes the castle as short lived burned down in 1142. This is not impossible but no other author mentions it. The historical evidence for a castle appears to be solely the Gesta Stephani and that seems to suggest a timber castle only. Fuller's research is relatively early but seems a thorough examination of historical sources and he makes no mention of such. Is this actual an error for the King's tower at Gloucester mentioned in a document of 1105?
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This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:20:10

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