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STAMFORD CASTLE

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Motte and bailey castle constructed about 1075 and allegedly demolished 1484. Excavations have identified a possible 9th century "fortified" enclosure and parts of the castle plan. Features identified include the 12th century hall solar and undercroft and 13th-14th century features. Field investigations in 1988 found that most of the castle had been built over. For details of the kiln site see TF 00 NW 647.

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[TF 0278 0702] Castle [G.T.] (Site of); [TF 0284 0697] Castle [GT];
(Rems of); [TF 0276 0695] Postern Gate [GT]. (1)

The Norman castle and its motte are on the north side of the Welland. There is no masonry on the motte, which is partly cut away, and what remains of the castle wall is of 13th century date. The castle, which was destroyed in the time of Richard III, appears to have been within the town walls, with a quadrangular bailey stretching down to the river. (2)

Rubble outhouses, at the corner of Castle Dyke, Bath Row, with three 14th cent. arches, are all that remain of the Castle buildings. A possible 14th century Postern Gate and short section of wall stands in Bath Row. (3)

No earthworks associable with the Castle could be identified. A wall plaque at TF 0284 0697 bears the inscription - "Castle erected 1075, demolished 1484, portion of Manor Court House remains and a postern gate." GP A0/61/147/1 - (Postern gate from South) GP A0/61/299/6 (14th c. doorway of Manor Court House from E.) GP A06129/7 (Manor Court House from SE). (4)

Rubble outbuilding at TF 02840697 scheduled. (5)

Excavation during construction of a Bus Park on the site of the castle resulted in the finding of Anglo-Saxon pottery. Excavation is to continue. (6)

Remains of the hall, solar and undercrofts of Stamford Castle dating from the 12th century, were uncovered during excavations on the site during 1971-6. North of the cellar (see plan), and cut into by it, was a building with slight foundations which overlay features associated with a pottery kiln, dated by wasters to the late 9th and early 10th centuries.
Earlier features include a U-shaped ditch with internal palisade, with another concentric palisade or ditch some 3m farther out. The ditch contained Stamford ware and a coin of Alfred. It is suggested that this was a late Saxon semi-fortified knoll. Plans. (7-8)

Outhouses at corner of Castle Dyke. Grade II. Corner buildings in rubble, of early appearance, at present outhouses with 3 splayed arches of 14th century date.
Postern gate of castle and section of castle wall, 14th century. Grade 2. (For full description see list). (9)

TF 028070. Outhouse at corner of Bath Row and Castle Dyke, scheduled. (10)

Additional bibliography. (11-12)

TF 028069. Excavations at Stamford Castle between 1972 and 1976 have revealed evidence of Saxo-Norman quarrying and 12th to 14th century structures including 2 main groups of stone buildings. A hall, undercroft and garderobes, together with grain drying kilns were discovered to the west of the bailey. The hall complex was discovered in the south-east corner of the bailey (see illustration card). Deposits relating to a 9th century pottery kiln were found to the north of the hall. Beneath the hall, and extending to the north, were the ditches of a 9th century enclosure. (13-14)

Stamford Castle is now completely built over, the area of the bus-park may perpetuate the shape of the ring-work; a pronounced drop (now revetted back) being traced on the north, east and south sides. (See illustration card). It may be no more than levelling up of the site in advance of the bus station. Remains of Manor Court House are as previously described. The outhouse to west has been demolished. (15)

Additional references. (16-19)

Early Medieval red painted pottery report. (20-21)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 25" 1930

( 2) by Andrew Rogerson 1993 Norman castles

Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group : AnnualNo 1 (1992) - Page(s)216-7

( 3) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

MHLG (Stamford MB) 1871 11/A 1947 9 Page(s)9

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 BHS 22-NOV-61

( 5) Scheduled Monument Notification

Ancient Monuments of England and Wales 1961 63 (MOW)

( 6) East Midlands Committee of Field Archaeologists East Midland Archaeological bulletin

1962 Page(s)18

( 7) Scheduled Monument Notification

DOE (IAM) Record Form July 1978

( 7a) edited by Michel de Bouard 1977 Chateau Gaillard, 8. Actes du colloque international tenu a Bad Muenstereifel (R.F.A.) 30 aout - 4 septembre 1976

8 Page(s)233

( 8) Medieval archaeology : journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology

21, 1977 Page(s)235

( 9) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) South Kesteven District. Lincolnshire. April 1974 20-21 Page(s)20-21

( 10) Scheduled Monument Notification

DOE (IAM) Anc Mons Eng 3 1978 64

( 11) Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England) 1977 An inventory of historical monuments: the town of Stamford

Page(s)3-4

( 12) by Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris ; revised by Nicholas Antram 1989 Lincolnshire

The Buildings of England Page(s)663

( 13) East Midlands Committee of Field Archaeologists East Midland Archaeological bulletin

12, 1978 Page(s)35

( 14) Trust for British Archaeology and Council for British Archaeology Rescue news : the newspaper of RESCUE, the British Archaeological Trust

Page(s)6

( 15) Field Investigators Comments

F2 WRW-N 07-SEP-88

( 16) Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology Archaeology in Lincolnshire : annual report of the Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology

6, 1983 Page(s)37

( 17) Lincoln Archaeology Trust annual reports

(C M Mahany) 1, 1985 Page(s)27-9

( 18) Lincoln Archaeology Trust annual reports

(C M Mahany) 2, 1986 Page(s)5-6

( 19) Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology Lincolnshire history and archaeology

21, 1986 Page(s)6

( 20) Medieval archaeology : journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology

21, 1977 Page(s)180-186

( 21) by Kathy Kilmurry 1980 The pottery industry of Stamford, Lincolnshire, c AD 850-1250 : its manufacture, trade and relationship with Continental wares, with a classification and chronology

BAR British series1 (1974) - 84

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