On 16th May 2012 8.56pm, baz said:
I find local history very interesting, and I hope to find on my next project about Allesley Castle. Thanks Baz.
Hi Baz 


PhilipInCoventry Holbrooks All posts by this member | 1 of 24 Wed 16th May 2012 9:21pm Moderator: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:3631 On 16th May 2012 8.56pm, baz said:
I find local history very interesting, and I hope to find on my next project about Allesley Castle. Thanks Baz.
Hi Baz ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Allesley Castle | |
flapdoodle Coventry All posts by this member | 2 of 24 Thu 17th May 2012 4:53pm Member: Joined Nov 2010 Total posts:845 I know someone who works for English Heritage, and I asked him about the 'ruins' of Allesley Castle. He checked on their database and said the site had been ruined and there was nothing there worth investigating now. Apparently, it's been dug up in the past and the excavation pits left open.
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Midland Red Cherwell All posts by this member | 3 of 24 Thu 17th May 2012 5:28pm Moderator: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5153 Here's some detail about Allesley Castle ![]() |
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Baz Coventry All posts by this member | 4 of 24 Thu 17th May 2012 9:24pm Member: Joined May 2012 Total posts:327 Hello all again. Allesley Castle was as I believe of stone as picture shows. This was taken from a paper clipping (hope I don't break copyright rules) from a collection lent to me. The picture was taken in 1964. The land owner I think were Dugdales, of Nuneaton fame. It was said that at one time they could walk from here to the coast in Wales and not set foot off their land. I am trying to contact them for any infomation that they have.
![]() ![]() Always looking forward to looking at the past. |
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anne coventry All posts by this member | 5 of 24 Fri 18th May 2012 6:22pm Member: Joined Feb 2012 Total posts:242 This is very interesting - but the text mentions the Stone House on the right but doesn't show it in the picture! My late friend, Bernard Oakley, wrote an interesting book about Allesley and I think he discussed the castle ruins. I think they still sell it in the post office on the Birmingham Road. I'm sure the local history section at the Herbert would have some info as well. ![]() |
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flapdoodle Coventry All posts by this member | 6 of 24 Fri 18th May 2012 9:10pm Member: Joined Nov 2010 Total posts:845 There's this as well
Not a lot there. In fact, this castle is shrouded in mystery. Was it just a post-conquest wooden Motte castle that later became a manorial home? |
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Baz Coventry All posts by this member | 7 of 24 Fri 18th May 2012 10:16pm Member: Joined May 2012 Total posts:327 Hello Flapdoodle and all. It is possible that the castle was built around the early 14th century by a Lord William Hastings. I am trying to find if there is a connection. IF it is true about the 14th century, then it would have been of stone as this replaced wood in the building of castles around 1260.
William Hastings (1st Baron Hastings) lived c.1431 13th June 1483 and was under King Edward IV.
A sort of local connection was that Richard Neville (Earl of Warwick) gave Hastings a wife in the form of his widowed sister. And Hastings was the High Sheriff of Warwickshire at the time. That's as far as I have got so far.
Always looking forward to looking at the past. |
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flapdoodle Coventry All posts by this member | 8 of 24 Fri 18th May 2012 10:37pm Member: Joined Nov 2010 Total posts:845 The earthwork is a motte, which places it far earlier than the 14th century.
According to an archaeologist friend of mine, it's quite common for motte & bailey castles that never got rebuilt in stone to be undocumented, and there's probably little that can learned from a dig on this site about the structure that stood on it - especially as it's been fairly badly treated over the years! (Apparently there's some concrete in it!)
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Baz Coventry All posts by this member | 9 of 24 Sat 19th May 2012 10:28pm Member: Joined May 2012 Total posts:327 It is said that the Great Wall around our city was started around 1356. If it is the case of a wooden type fort, or castle, then it would pre-date this. The Lunt Fort was around 64 AD. I wonder if any Roman artifacts have been found in Allesley? Always looking forward to looking at the past. |
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LesMac Coventry All posts by this member | 10 of 24 Sun 20th May 2012 10:14am Member: Joined Dec 2011 Total posts:234 I have been poking about on the 'net and it appears that there was a castle to the south of Allesley Hall.
My house deeds include old maps of the area and they indicate ruins of a castle on the Allesley Park estate. I believe that this castle was in the wooded area just off The Jordans. Les |
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NormK bulkington All posts by this member | 11 of 24 Sun 20th May 2012 10:40am Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:746 Hi. I lived in the Jordans for 35 years before moving to Bulkington. The wooded area you mention is what locals call The Spinney, we always thought it was a bomb hole, a sunken area surrounded by large trees. It's interesting to hear that it was more than that - thanks! Milly rules |
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PhilipInCoventry Holbrooks All posts by this member Thread starter | 12 of 24 Sun 20th May 2012 11:00am Moderator: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:3631 Hi all ![]() ![]() |
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flapdoodle Coventry All posts by this member | 13 of 24 Sun 20th May 2012 4:11pm Member: Joined Nov 2010 Total posts:845 On 19th May 2012 10:28pm, Baz said:
It is said that the Great Wall around our city was started around 1356. If it is the case of a wooden type fort, or castle, then it would pre-date this. The Lunt Fort was around 64 AD. I wonder if any Roman artifacts have been found in Allesley?
When the Normans took control of England, they built a lot of castles quickly and most of these were wooden and built in the motte and bailey style. Many were then rebuilt in stone, but a lot were not. The original Coventry Castle dates from this period and was rebuilt in stone.
One other possibility is that the earthwork was built during 'the anarchy', the civil war between King Stephen and Matilda. A lot of castles were built in this time as well (probably still using motte & bailey techniques) and a lot of them illegal (you needed to get permission to build one). The earthwork at Allesley could potentially date from this period. The civil war saw battles in the centre of Coventry, and resulted in Coventry Castle being destroyed.
If the earthwork is some sort of 'castle', then it would definitely predate the city wall.
I don't believe there's ever been any sort of dig at the Allesley. |
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flapdoodle Coventry All posts by this member | 14 of 24 Sun 20th May 2012 4:14pm Member: Joined Nov 2010 Total posts:845 On 20th May 2012 10:14am, LesMac said:
I have been poking about on the 'net and it appears that there was a castle to the south of Allesley Hall.
My house deeds include old maps of the area and they indicate ruins of a castle on the Allesley Park estate. I believe that this castle was in the wooded area just off The Jordans.
Yes, it's a scheduled ancient monument - there's no ruins, as it's just an earthwork, probably the 'motte'. I went up there last year and had a look around it, but you can't see much. The site's been ruined as well - people have apparently dug bits up and there're some lumps of concrete in it!
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Baz Coventry All posts by this member | 15 of 24 Tue 22nd May 2012 10:46pm Member: Joined May 2012 Total posts:327 Hi all, it looks like trying to get any more info on this site is looking grim. Most findings are already out there on the internet, "but not much". I don't think we are going to find much more out. But please prove me wrong. Thanks for all the input. Baz. ![]() Always looking forward to looking at the past. |
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