[58020] Leicester Castle

Leicester Castle, Tne Newarke, Leicester.

 

Leicester Castle was part of the medieval town defences, built over the Roman town walls. The castle was probably built around 1070.

 

The remains now consist of a mound, along with ruins.

Originally the mound was 40 ft high. Kings Edward I in 1300 and Edward II in 1310 & 1311 are known to have stayed at the castle, and John of Gaunt and his second wife Constance of Castile both died here in 1399 and 1394 respectively.

 

Eventually, however, it was used mainly as a courthouse (sessions being held in the Great Hall), rather than a residence. Apart from being used for Assize Courts, the Great Hall was also used for sessions of the Parliament of England most notably in 1426, when conditions in London were not suitable. It is also known for its connections with the Plantagenet family.

 

The Castle, the Turret Gateway, the Great Hall and "John of Gaunt's Cellar" (erroneously called a dungeon) are all Scheduled Ancient Monuments and/or listed buildings

 

Parliamentarian Leicester was besieged, captured, and ransacked during the Civil War by the main Royalist field army under King Charles I and Prince Rupert on 31st May 1645. The third storey of the Turret Gateway was destroyed in an election riot in 1832.

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