STAFFORD CASTLE

Staffordshire

William I raised the first Castle here around 1070.  This was destroyed before 1086, but then rebuilt once more before being granted to Robert de Stafford.  This may still have been the Castle in the town centre of which there is no sign, but either during this rebuild or later when the Castle had been granted to William Pantulf the Castle was moved to a site west of the town centre where it stands today.

This was still a motte and bailey(s) Castle, but stonework was added after the first Lord Stafford received a licence to crenellate in 1348.  This Castle took the form of a square tower, probably a small keep, remains of which can be discerned amongst later work on the motte.  Humphrey Stafford built more on the site during the mid-1400s, and at that time the Castle would have been very similar to Tutbury and Chartley, both in Staffordshire also.

The Stafford family became Dukes of Buckingham, and the 3rd Duke was executed by Henry VIII in 1521, whereupon the Castle passed into the King's hands.  The Castle was slighted in the Civil War, although there is not much sign of a siege.

The ruins were 'improved' by Baron Stafford in the 1800s and it is quite hard to tell which parts of todays remains are medieval and which parts are folly.

The Castle stands in its own large park and is open all year.  The park is right next to the M6 motorway and the Castle is one of the best sights along the whole of its length.

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2002