Stockport Castle

Infobox Historic building


caption=
name=Stockport Castle
location_town=Stockport, Greater Manchester
location_country=England
map_type=Greater Manchester
latitude=53.411401
longitude=-2.154218
architect=
client=
engineer=
construction_start_date=
completion_date=
date_demolished=1775
cost=
structural_system=
style=Motte-and-bailey castle
size=

Stockport Castle is a motte-and-bailey castle in Stockport, Greater Manchester (gbmapping|SJ897905).cite web |title=Stockport Castle |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1085399 |publisher=Pastscape.org.uk |accessdate=2008-01-05] The castle was first mentioned in 1173 when Geoffrey de Costentyn held it against Henry II during the barons' rebellion. There is a local tradition that Geoffrey de Constentyn was the son of Henry II, Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany; this is not the case as Geoffrey de Constentyn was a local lord who not only owned the manor of Stockport, but land in Staffordshire and Ireland too. [Arrowsmith (1997), p. 31.] The bailey would originally have been defended by a wooden palisade and earthworks; these were replaced by stone walls at the beginning of the 13th century. Two fragments of the wall survive. [cite web |title=Stockport Castle |url=http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/3358.html |publisher=The Gatehouse |accessdate=2008-01-05] It lay in ruins by 1535 according to John Leland. The ruins were levelled in 1775 by Sir George Warren, the lord of the manor, and a cotton mill built on the site. [Arrowsmith (1997), p. 32.]

ee also

*Castles in Greater Manchester

References

Bibligraphy

*cite book |first=Peter |last=Arrowsmith |date=1997 |title=Stockport: A History |publisher=Stockport MBC Community Services Division, and Stockport Libraries, in association with the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit |isbn=0905164997