Benington Castle is a ruined castle in the village of Benington, near Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England at grid reference TL296236. It has been protected since 1936 as a scheduled monument.[1]
A motte-and-bailey castle was built in the late 11th or early 12th century, founded by Peter de Valognes. In 1136, Roger de Valognes built a stone castle with a keep. In 1177, King Henry II ordered that the tower be demolished (slighted).[1] According to historian Sidney Painter it was one of at least 21 castles slighted on the orders of Henry II.[2]
In 1192 the castle was in use again. It was finally destroyed in 1212, after Robert Fitzwalter rebelled against King John. Only the foundations of the keep and some earthworks now remain from the original structure.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1007844)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Painter, Sidney (1935). "English Castles in the Early Middle Ages: Their Number, Location, and Legal Position". Speculum. 10 (3): 322. doi:10.2307/2848384. ISSN 0038-7134.