FOTHERINGHAY CASTLE

Northamptonshire

Fotheringhay Castle is one of the most historic sights in Northamptonshire, so it is a doubly-great shame that so little remains of a once huge Castle.

The motte, standing high above the Nene, were built by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton, around 1100.  Edward III gave the Castle to his son, Edmund, and the Castle developed into a large building.  It became one of the favourite residences of the Dukes of York, who would later contest the English Throne during the Wars of the Roses.  By the time Richard III was born here in 1452 the Castle was a huge rambling palace of a building (compare the size of the nearby Collegiate Church, half of which is missing and some idea of the splendour can be gained).

Fotheringhay is today most famous, or even infamous, as the site of the trial and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587.

The Castle was dismantled in 1645 and today only the motte and one large chunk of masonry mark the spot.

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© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
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2001