Beeston Castle

Beeston Castle
Part of Cheshire
Beeston, England
A modern bridge provides access to the gateway of the inner ward.
Location map and quick summary
Beeston Castle is located in Cheshire
Beeston Castle
Beeston Castle
Coordinates53°07′40″N 2°41′29″W / 53.1277°N 2.6913°W / 53.1277; -2.6913
TypeEnclosure castle
Height9 metres (30 ft)
Site information
OwnerEnglish Heritage
ConditionRuin
Site history
Builtc. 1220
Built byRanulf de Blondeville
In useOpen to public
MaterialsSandstone
Demolished1646
EventsWelsh Wars
English Civil War

Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ537593), perched on a rocky sandstone crag 350 feet (107 m)[1] above the Cheshire Plain. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester (1170–1232), on his return from the Crusades. In 1237, Henry III took over the ownership of Beeston, and it was kept in good repair until the 16th century, when it was considered to be of no further military use, although it was pressed into service again in 1643, during the English Civil War. The castle was slighted (partly demolished) in 1646, in accordance with Cromwell's destruction order, to prevent its further use as a bastion. During the 18th century, parts of the site were used as a quarry.

The castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument owned and managed by English Heritage.[2] The walls of the outer bailey and the gatehouse and curtain walls of the inner bailey are recorded separately in the National Heritage List for England as designated Grade I listed buildings.[3][4] A legend states that the royal treasure of Richard II was buried in the castle grounds but many searches have failed to discover the hoard.

  1. ^ Fry (1980), p. 186.
  2. ^ Historic England, "Beeston Castle; medieval enclosure castle and site of late prehistoric hillfort (1007900)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 December 2012
  3. ^ Historic England, "Walls of the outer bailey at Beeston Castle (1130513)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 September 2018
  4. ^ Historic England, "Walls, towers and gatehouse of the inner bailey at Beeston Castle (1330329)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 December 2012