Fotheringhay Castle

Fotheringhay Castle was in the village of Fotheringhay some 3½ miles (6 km) to the north of the market town of Oundle, Northamptonshire (gbmapping|TL061930).

It began as a Norman motte castle on the north side of the River Nene, built by Simon de St. Liz, Earl of Northampton around 1100.

In the early 13th century it was held by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and also by Ranulf, Earl of Chester. John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon became Earl of Chester in 1232 due to his connection to Ranulph who was his mother's brother. He died in 1237 and the honour of Chester was bought from Ranulph's sisters by Henry III of England, who gave it to his son Edward. Both Fotheringhay and Chester Castle were briefly under the control of Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby during the latter's rebellion between 1264 and 1265. [J. R. Maddicott, "Ferrers, Robert de, sixth earl of Derby (c. 1239–1 279)," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [ accessed 28 Oct 2007] ]

It is famous for two royal connections: Richard III was born here in 1452, and Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned and executed here in 1587.

The castle fell into disrepair and was pulled down in 1627. There is now little to be seen apart from the earthworks and a pile of masonry.

There is a first hand account of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots written by Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme. It was printed in 1665, and uses the spelling "Fotheringay" rather than "Fotheringhay". This perhaps explains why Sandy Denny used the former spelling for her group Fotheringay.

References

*Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, "The David & Charles Book of Castles", David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3

External links

* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/31539 Photograph]